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ONG   CHARLES WILLIAM   NOBLEZA
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ZAPANTA   ARVIN BRIAN

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MANILAG   ERICK   FONTANILLA
MAQUILING   JAY-R   PARCO
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SIBUG   JASON JAMES

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ESPIRITU   ELLAINE

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VARQUEZ   JOEL   DELA CRUZ
VIERNES   RALPH DAVID

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JAVIER   JEFFREY ROGER   BERNAL
LADAGA   DARREN GAY   GARCIANO
MEDINACELI   GEOVANNI   LORENAS
MENDOZA   MARC LEE GENESIS   CORCUERA
NGKAION   ANTHONY   LIMSON
PASTOR   MICHAEL   GUANZON
POBLETE   SIMON MIGUEL   SANDEJAS
RIAN   DOMINGO   HOSANA
RIVERA   CARISSA JANE   LAYNESA
ROBLEZA   HEHERSON   SUPERFICIAL
ROJERO   ALFRED   JOAQUIN
SALADAS   RICHIE   GREFALDEO
SANIDAD   LESTER   TANDEC
SANTIAGO   JESSANI

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AGBAYANI   JITTARI   PINZON
ALBALATE   MATT GERARD   BORNILLO
ALINEA   JOHPA MARRA EIZARA   GAURANO
ANDALEON   ZAIVHER   GLUTON
AYADA   SADHAN   GUIMBA
BACALLA   MARK GINO   BUENO
BERNARDO   ROI ALLAN   AVEYRO
CAFE   APOLINAR JR   GANTES
CHAN   JOHN JOSEPH   FRANCISCO
CHUA   JOHN CHRISTIAN   TOLEDO
CORTEZ   MICHAEL ANGELO   ECHON
DADIVO   MARK GERALD   DELA CRUZ
DANICO   EMERSON   BUCO
DE LEON   DAVID ALBERT   OLIDANA
DELA CRUZ   GINO ROBERTO   DE JESUS
DOLLANO   RYAN ANGELO   MENDOZA
DOLLENTE   PHILIP   DOBLE
DOMINGUIANO   OSCAR JR   LLAGUNO
ESPINA   HENZEL

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VILLAPAÃ'A   MARVIN   GORGONIA
VILLELA   MONARCH   RAMOS
ZENAROSA   BRYAN

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FLORES   SANDRA   OCZON
FORMOSO   VICENTE III   DEL ROSARIO
GO   MAY ANN   BINUYA
HERNANDEZ   FRANCIS REY   MENDOZA
HUELGAS   MELVIN   SANTOS
LANGIT   DIOSDADO II   HERNANDEZ
LARGOZA   ARVIN ANGELO   CALINGASAN
LIPAT   ROLAN   YRAY
MAGHARI   RHANELL   ESCANER
MAN-ON   GHIANNY   SANTIAGO
MANUEL   RYAN JAMES   CERVANTES
MURILLO   KRISTINE ANN   TUIZA
NACINO   GILBERT   CASTILLO
PANELO   JAIME DOMINIC   COBALLES
PANGILINAN   ALVIN   SABADO
PUA   MICHAEL-JOHN   MAURICIO
RAMOS   CATHY ROSE   DE CASTRO
REYES   DENNIS   BACULO
SANTOS   JOHN PAUL   PEROLINA
TORRES   MARK ADRIAN

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ABALAYAN   ERIC   NACION
ACOSTA   EDRYAN   HERICO
ALDAY   BRYAN JASPER   CHUA
ALTEJOS   JASON   DESTAJO
AMPARO   EMER JUN   ODAL
APUYAN   ANTHONY   LANUZA
ARCARDO   DANIEL   DY
ARMEDILLA   ARJUN   SULLA
ASONG   JOHN LIBY   LAGRADANTE
BERNARDO   MICHAEL ELLIEL   IGNACIO
BICUA   WILWAUKEE   SOTELO
BROAS   GERALD   FRANCIA
CASABAR   ALMELO   ZAMBALE
CAUNTAY   RYAN JOHN   FRANCIA
DANGANAN   JOSEPH CHRISTOFEL   GIMENA
DELANO   JASON   VESAGAS
ENCINARES   MIGUEL JR   GALLANOSA
ESTABILLO   EMIL AUBREY   PADILLA
ESTIVA   RENZ DARWIN   FLORES
FIGUERAS   CELESTINO JR

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MEDIA RELEASE 

22 November 2017
DOE’s Fuel Economy Run Highlights Vehicle Efficiency

READY, SET, GO: DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella waves the starting flag in kicking off the 13th DOE Fuel Economy Run at Clark, Pampanga Nov. 20-22.
The aim of the Fuel Economy Run was to raise awareness on the importance of fuel-efficient technology in automobiles and the positive impact of said technology on motorists and the environment.

(Clark, Pampanga)--As part of its efforts to promote better awareness of fuel-efficient technology in vehicles, the Department of Energy (DOE), with Petron Corporation, conducted the 13th DOE Fuel Economy Run on 20-21 November in Clark, Pampanga.

“Through this event, we will be able to determine fuel consumption rating in kilometers per liter of different brand new vehicles available in the market in accordance with actual highway driving conditions,” DOE Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella said as he spoke on behalf of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi during the opening program.

A total of 55 participants consisting of sedans, service utility vehicles (SUV), multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) and pickups from various car manufacturers joined the fuel economy run with 26 vehicles running on diesel and 26 vehicles on gasoline.

“DOE aims to empower our consumers in their choice of vehicle by putting a premium on energy efficiency,” Fuentebella added.

Results were announced during the awarding ceremonies afternoon of Tuesday (21 November) based on the evaluation of the participants’ statistics after the run.

For the diesel entries, the Volkswagen Golf GTS was the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the sedan category with a fuel economy rating of 27.91 kilometers/liter (km/L). In the SUV category, Ssangyong Rodius topped the list with a rating of 33.12 km/L.

Toyota Innova had the highest rating of 21.60 km/L for the MPV category, while Mahindra Supro ranked the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the pickup category with a rating of 22.52 km/L.

For the gasoline entries, Kia Picanto posted the highest rating of 29.23 km/L for the sedan category, while the Honda BR-V with a rating of 22.22 km/L emerged the best in the SUV category.

The Chevrolet Trax led the MPV category with a rating of 17.98 km/L, while the BAIC Freedom ranked the most fuel-efficient in the pickup category with a rating of 15.10 km/L.

Fuentebella explained that “the results of the fuel economy run will help our vehicle-buying public know the car’s fuel economy performance rating before they purchase any of them.”

Below is the complete list indicating the participating vehicles’ brand and model with their respective fuel economy rating (in kilometers per liter) after the fuel economy run:

DIESEL ENTRIES
NO
BRAND
MODEL
VEHICLE TYPE
ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CC)
TRANSMISSION
FUEL ECONOMY RATING (km/L)
1
Volkswagen
Golf GTS
Sedan
1968
Automatic
27.91
2
Hyundai
Accent
Sedan
1591
Automatic
27.80
3
Volkswagen
Jetta
Sedan
1968
Automatic
24.75
4
Volvo
S90 D4
Sedan
1969
Automatic
21.13
5
Ssangyong
Rodius
SUV
1998
Automatic
33.12
6
Mini
Countryman
SUV
1998
Automatic
30.64
7
Peugeot
3008
SUV
1997
Automatic
25.39
8
Honda
CR-V
SUV
1597
Automatic
23.96
9
Ssangyong
Tivoli XLV
SUV
1597
Automatic
22.35
10
Volvo
V90 Cross Country  D4
SUV
1969
Automatic
21.40
11
Mitsubishi


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Reuters - Uber Technologies Inc paid hackers $100,000 to keep secret a massive breach last year that exposed the personal information of about 57 million accounts of the ride-service provider, the company said on Tuesday.

Discovery of the U.S. company's cover-up of the incident resulted in the firing of two employees responsible for its response to the hack, said Dara Khosrowshahi, who replaced co-founder Travis Kalanick as CEO in August.

"None of this should have happened, and I will not make excuses for it," Khosrowshahi said in a blog post. (ubr.to/2AmxlQt)

The breach occurred in October 2016 but Khosrowshahi said he had only recently learned of it.

The hack is another controversy for Uber on top of sexual harassment allegations, a lawsuit alleging trade secrets theft and multiple federal criminal probes that culminated in Kalanick's ouster in June.

The stolen information included names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers of Uber users around the world, and the names and license numbers of 600,000 U.S. drivers, Khosrowshahi said.

Uber passengers need not worry as there was no evidence of fraud, while drivers whose license numbers had been stolen would be offered free identity theft protection and credit monitoring, Uber said.

Two hackers gained access to proprietary information stored on GitHub, a service that allows engineers to collaborate on software code. There, the two people stole Uber's credentials for a separate cloud-services provider where they were able to download driver and rider data, the company said.

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ESPN News - Retired NBA star Ray Allen said he is a victim of catfishing and has asked a court to throw out a case in which he is accused of stalking someone he met online.

Allen filed an emergency motion in Orange County, Florida, on Tuesday, one day after Bryant Coleman told the court he is being stalked by the 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion.

Allen said Coleman is the one who is stalking.

"Coleman pretended to be a number of attractive women interested in Ray Allen," read the motion filed on Allen's behalf. "Ray believed he was speaking with these women and communicated with them."

Catfishing refers to a person who creates a fake profile on social media to trick someone. The term came into common usage with the 2010 documentary "Catfish," and later in an MTV show of the same name that explored online dating.

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Reuters - Researchers who warned half a dozen robot manufacturers in January about nearly 50 vulnerabilities in their home, business and industrial robots, say only a few of the problems have been addressed.

The researchers, Cesar Cerrudo and Lucas Apa of cybersecurity firm IOActive, said the vulnerabilities would allow hackers to spy on users, disable safety features and make robots lurch and move violently, putting users and bystanders in danger.

While they say there are no signs that hackers have exploited the vulnerabilities, they say the fact that the robots were hacked so easily and the manufacturers' lack of response raise questions about allowing robots in homes, offices and factories.

"Our research shows proof that even non-military robots could be weaponized to cause harm," Apa said in an interview.

"These robots don't use bullets or explosives, but microphones, cameras, arms and legs. The difference is that they will be soon around us and we need to secure them now before it's too late."

Some of the robot manufacturers defended themselves, saying they had fixed some or all of the issues raised.

Apa's comments come in the wake of a letter signed by more than 100 leading robotic experts urging the United Nations to ban the development of killer military robots, or autonomous weapons.

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As if a solar eclipse was not enough, the moon threw some virtual shade at the sun on Twitter on Monday, as millions of people watched the first coast-to-coast total eclipse in the United States in nearly a century.

"HA HA HA I've blocked the Sun!" wrote NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) on its verified Twitter account, which was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "Make way for the Moon. #SolarEclipse2017."

The tweet was accompanied with a screenshot photo showing that the moon had blocked the verified Twitter profile of NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun). The sun's response was swift.

"Uh EXCUSE me?!? #solareclipse2017," tweeted @NASASun. - Reuters

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) â€" Vogue launched its newest international edition this month, targeting a niche audience in the Middle East that is fashion conscious, style-driven and wealthy. If its debut is anything to go by, the magazine promises to be bold, representative and deferential.

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HODEIDA, Yemen (AP) â€" The boat packed with dozens of Somali refugees was more than 30 miles off war-torn Yemen's coast when a military vessel and a helicopter gunship swooped in, opening fire in the dead of night Friday, killing at least 42 people. The attack, which Yemen's Shiite rebels blamed on a Saudi-led coalition, highlighted the perils of a heavily used migration route running from the Horn of Africa to the oil-rich Gulf, right through Yemen's civil war.

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BILOXI, Miss. (AP) â€" A freight train smashed into a charter bus in a coastal Mississippi city on Tuesday, pushing the bus 300 feet down the tracks and leaving at least four people dead, authorities said. Rescuers spent more than an hour removing passengers, cutting through the bus's heavily damaged frame to extract the last two.

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" A powerful conservative backlash threatened to sink the new Republican health care bill Tuesday less than 24 hours after its launch, even as President Donald Trump and congressional leaders began trying to sell the legislation as the long-promised GOP cure for "Obamacare."

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) â€" One day after a stunning breakdown in diplomatic ties, Malaysia said Wednesday that it wants to negotiate with Pyongyang despite an increasingly bitter dispute over the investigation into the killing of Kim Jong Nam, the long-exiled half brother of North Korea's ruler.

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" President Donald Trump agreed to add fresh Medicaid curbs to the House Republican health care bill Friday, bolstering the measure with support from some conservative lawmakers but leaving its prospects wobbly. House leaders discussed other amendments calibrated to round up votes and scheduled a showdown vote Thursday.

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THE HONORABLE FREDERICK W. SIAO
Lone District of Iligan City
Vice Chair, Committee on Tourism
Member, Committees on Appropriations, Mindanao Affairs,
Economic Affairs, and 7 other committees
Facebook: /congressmansiao Twitter: @freddiesiao
IMPACT OF EASE OF DOING BUSINESS BILL ON LGUs

The Iligan City Perspective
BACKGROUND: Iligan City Lone District Representative Frederick W. Siao served as councilor of Iligan City for two consecutive terms from 2010 to 2016. He chaired the Committee on Trade & Commerce in the city council. He is recognized as the father of the Investments & Incentives Code of Iligan City, a very important piece of local legislation in the aspect of ease of doing business in the city.

Iligan City, which I represent here at the House of Representatives, ranks 33rd overall among the highly urbanized cities of the Philippines, according to the 2017 edition of Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of the National Competitiveness Council. In 2014, Iligan ranked 41st. Eight places up the ladder after just three years. http://www.cmcindex.org.ph/pages/profile/?lgu=Iligan.

Iligan is now 1st in Availability of Basic Utilities, 10th in Cost of Doing Business, 12th in Business Registration Efficiency, 16th in Employed Population, 17th in Social Protection, and 18th in Compliance to Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Standards.

Quite good for a Mindanaoan city with a population of 352 thousand. We certainly intend to do much better.

The House of Representatives passed House Bill 6579 or the Ease of Doing Business Act (EODBA) on third and final reading.  (http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/first_17/CR00436.pdf )

We in Iligan City are quite excited about HB 6579 because it means more of our residents will have jobs, get better services, work in new business enterprises, and continue the march onward to progress.

We look forward to working with the DICT, DTI, DILG on implementing this important piece of legislation. We know this new legislation means more capacity building and training for our government personnel and ordinary citizens who are actively working with our barangays. Without capacity-building, implementing the Ease of Doing Business Act will not go smoothly.

Iligan City will do its best to be part of the Computerized or Software-Enable Business Permit and Licensing System and the Electronic Business One Stop Shop, as well as adopt and roll out the unified business application form.

THE ROAD AHEAD
HB 6579 gives a one-year timetable for implementing key changes. Those 365 days will go by quite fast.

I urge the DILG, DTI, and DICT to convene in early 2018 the cities and municipalities in parallel national summits to expedite the preparations for making EODBA happen on time and done well.

With the 2018 national budget soon to become law and the 2019 budget cycle to begin early next year, my expectation is the DTI, DILG, DICT and DBM will factor into the budget the resources and personnel needed to do EODBA properly in 2019 and onwards.

The Senate version of HB 6579 is known as the Expanded Anti-Red Tape Act (SB 1311), which has basically the same overall approach and priorities, but there are some different provisions between the two, so those have to be reconciled by the bicameral conference committee, the unified bill will then be reported out for ratification by both chambers, then sent to President Duterte for his signature.

President Duterte could choose to let the bill lapse into law, but knowing how cutting red tape has been his priority since Day One of his administration, he will make sure this bill gets the signing ceremony it deserves.

HB 6579 and SB 1311 prove the resolve of the Duterte administration and the 17th Congress to make the national economy grow by leaps and bounds by throwing away the shackles of red tape. (END)

REFERENCES:
http://www.cmcindex.org.ph/pages/profile/?lgu=Iligan 

http://www.iligan.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/02/Application-Form-for-BP-Iligan.pdf 

http://www.iligan.gov.ph/institutionalizing-simplified-business-registration-businesses-iligan-city/ 

http://www.iligan.gov.ph/services/ 

http://www.business.gov.ph/web/guest;jsessionid=f88f193cf180b6313dbc5310a70a 
https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-iligan-city-was-recorded-323-thousand-results-2010-census-population-and-housing 

http://nap.psa.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/municipality.asp?muncode=103504000&regcode=10&provcode=35 

http://bworldonline.com/competitiveness-council-cites-top-local-governments/ 

http://www.manilatimes.net/competitive-lgus-tagged-latest-ncc-list/344924/ 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2017/08/18/cebu-city-drops-competitiveness-index-559295 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2017/08/24/san-fernando-4-central-luzon-towns-receive-award-560151 

http://www.canadianinquirer.net/2017/11/03/automation-to-leapfrog-ph-rank-in-doing-business-report/ 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2017/08/20/zamboanga-city-named-most-improved-lgu-559512

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U.S. Embassy Manila Closed on Thursday November 23, 2017

Manila, November 22, 2017 â€" The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Thursday, November 23, in observance of Thanksgiving, an American holiday.

The Embassy and affiliated offices will resume services on Friday, November 24.

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Reed Business seeking Market Reporter / Markets Editor (Singapore)

ICIS Singapore, a division of Reed Business Information, is looking for a Singapore-based Markets Reporter / Markets Editor to join its Asia Pacific editorial team. The successful candidate will deliver news coverage of assigned markets, price reporting on chemical markets and market engagement. The successful applicant should possess a bachelor’s degree in journalism, business, economics or chemical engineering. Relevant experience in media organisations or the petrochemical industry would be preferred, although not required. This is a six-month full-time contract-based position.
 
To apply, please send your CV to recruitment specialist Eric Ng at eric.ng@reedbusiness.com

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Content Producer for Men’s Health magazine (Singapore)

Men’s Health Singapore is seeking a Content Producer to create and curate multi-platform and multi-media content focusing on fitness, health, and nutrition-related stories. The ideal candidate must be an avid gym user and a fitness enthusiast. The applicant should be familiar with SEO and CMS, and have experience with creating editorial video content. Send your CV and writing samples to Shakun at nshakun@sph.com.sg

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STATEMENT BY THE
HONORABLE NEIL J. ABAYON
AANGAT TAYO Party-list
Assistant Minority Leader
REP. ABAYON PUSHES FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TRAIN PASSENGERS

Yesterday I filed House Bill 6680, which, when it becomes law, will authorize the application of insurance solutions. The many incidents resulting to injuries and deaths along our country’s light rails and railways highlight the need for the provision of insurance coverage meant to make sure all victims are properly compensated and the government is also protected as to liability costs.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) cannot keep on drawing money from its discretionary funds to pay for hospitalization and recovery expenses of victims. Considering how frequent the accidents and failure incidents are happening, that would be unwise management of public funds. Insurance is the appropriate long-term solution.

While DOTr is still working out their solutions to MRT, PNR, and LRT woes, the viable way to respond to passenger injuries and deaths should include insurance solutions. No man-made system can ever be perfect or 100 percent efficient. There will be incidents and accidents (two different things) and that is why there must be insurance.

There are different ways to go about this. One way is via micro insurance on a per passenger per trip basis. Another way is for the different rail firms to get insurance covering their entire networks. Yet another approach is for the rail firms to require their maintenance and operations service providers to get the insurance coverage.

Bottom line is the cost to the riding public and the government must be reasonably minimal or hardly felt. Higher fare rates must not be the result of the insurance coverage for these incidents. (END)

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LONDON (AP) â€" Deep in the Bolivian Amazon lives a group of indigenous people who spend their days hunting and farming. Researchers say this may be partly why they have some of the healthiest hearts on the planet.

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CARROLL, Iowa (AP) â€" Outside his rural congressional district stretching over 39 Iowa counties, conservative U.S. Rep. Steve King's stream of inflammatory comments generate outrage and condemnation, but back home they rate little more than a shrug.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) â€" New Zealand authorities say they're unable to investigate an incident involving a U.S. Embassy staffer based in Wellington after the U.S. government elected to shield him by invoking diplomatic immunity.

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" The House GOP health care bill has competition from other Republicans, a group of governors who've made their own proposal about how to overhaul Medicaid for low-income people. They're hoping GOP senators will find their ideas more persuasive.

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" President Donald Trump said Saturday that Germany owes "vast sums of money" to NATO and the U.S. "must be paid more" for providing defense, reiterating his stance that European allies need to meet their end of the bargain if they are to continue benefiting from the military alliance.

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) â€" Somalia's government on Saturday blamed the Saudi-led coalition for Friday's attack on a boat that killed at least 42 Somali refugees off the coast of war-torn Yemen, calling the assault by a military vessel and a helicopter gunship "horrific."

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" Former CIA Director James Woolsey has accused the Trump administration's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, of participating in a discussion with Turkish officials about possibly subverting the U.S. extradition process to remove a Turkish cleric from the United States.

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LONDON (AP) â€" Britain filed for divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, with fond words and promises of friendship that could not disguise the historic nature of the schism â€" or the years of argument and hard-nosed bargaining ahead as the U.K. leaves the embrace of the bloc for an uncertain future as "global Britain."


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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" Note to President Donald Trump and House Republicans: People really don't like your approach to overhauling America's health care. If you're hoping to revive the effort, you may want to try something different.

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) â€" Two former aides to Gov. Chris Christie were sentenced to prison Wednesday for creating a colossal traffic jam at the George Washington Bridge for political revenge, a scandal that sank Christie's White House campaign and was attributed by the judge to a venomous climate inside state government.

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WASHINGTON (AP) â€" Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is in discussions with the House and Senate intelligence committees on receiving immunity from "unfair prosecution" in exchange for agreeing to be questioned as part of ongoing probes into possible contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia, his attorney says.

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JERUSALEM (AP) â€" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a slowdown of construction in territory Palestinians want for a state in a gesture to President Donald Trump at the same cabinet meeting where he approved the first new settlement in the heart of the West Bank in two decades.

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ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) â€" President Horacio Cartes fired Paraguay's interior minister and top police official on Saturday following the killing of a young opposition party leader and violent overnight clashes sparked by a secret Senate vote for a constitutional amendment to allow presidential re-election.

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STATEMENT BY
THE HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
Twitter: @Kabayan_Ron
ROQUE VIOLATED PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S CARDINAL RULE

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque now has done what President Rodrigo Duterte warned him not to do. He has not told the truth.

Roque went public with a supposed letter from the PDEA Employees Union. But now the PDEA Employees Union through its president has categorically denied the letter besmirching former PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago. The union president even asserts that the letter is a fabrication.

Just weeks in office, Roque has now brought dishonor to President Duterte and the position he now holds. He also dishonors the law profession.

This new episode simply proves KABAYAN Party-list was right to expel him from the party. The House of Representatives is fortunate to no longer have Roque in its ranks.

If he has any honor left, Mr. Roque should immediately resign and fade into the sunset rather than drag president Duterte in his shameless lie. (END)

REFERENCES:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/633909/ex-ddb-chair-santiago-says-supposed-accuser-denies-sending-complaint-letter-to-palace/story/

https://www.rappler.com/nation/189093-ddb-employees-union-complaint-santiago-malacanang 

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2017/11/20/Dangerous-Drugs-Board-Dionisio-Santiago-corruption-narcopolitician.html 

http://www.interaksyon.com/ddb-workers-union-used-in-fake-letter-of-complaint-vs-dionisio-union-president/ 

http://media.interaksyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DDB_union_letter_kuno_on_Dionisio_Santiago_handout_11202017.png 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/633853/ddb-union-denies-sending-duterte-letter-accusing-santiago-of-corrupt-acts/story/ 

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DTI official encourages NIT to improve ICT courses

Naval, Biliran (August 30 2005) -â€" In order to ensure that students taking up Information and Communication Technology (ICT) courses will land employment in establishment catering to ICT business in the country, Regional Director Cynthia R. Nierras of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 8 encouraged school officials of Naval Institute of Technology (NIT) to improve ICT courses.

The message of Director Nierras was made during the opening of the Agro-Industrial Trade Fair which is the kick-off activity of the 33rd NIT Charter Anniversary Celebration that starts from August 30 up to September 3, 2005.

The remark made by Director Nierras to improve ICT courses of the school was based on her observation during the recent jobs fair conducted by Convergys in the region.

Convergys is a business entity engaged in call center operation nationwide.Call center operation is now the growing business in the country that hires mostly graduates of ICT.

She said that employment opportunity in ICT is a big demand this time with the emergence of many ICT businesses in the country. Furthermore she said that Convergys is set to hire 10,000 workers in a span of five years.

According to Dir. Nierras, out of the 1,790 applicants during the jobs fair only 21 applicants were employed.out of the more than 200 applicants who passed the three screening conducted by Convergys.

The result shows that the graduates of ICT in the region lack the skills and capabilities or the competency requirement before one can be hired as employee in a call center.

In order to answer the problem on low capability of ICT graduates in region 8, Dir. Nierras proposed that graduates of colleges taking up ICT courses must still undergo a three-month course design to enhance ICT knowledge, skill and capability that will give them big chance of employment.

The proposal to enhance the knowledge of ICT graduates is in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that provides technical assistance to said three month enhancement course.

Dir. Nierras also invites the NIT administration as well as to all the colleges and universities in the region offering ICT courses to develop programs intended to improve the quality of ICT graduates. She further encourages to let their ICT graduates undergo short term courses especially those conducted by TESDA in order to give them a big chance of employment. (PIA Biliran)

People's organization tells opposition: Wait for elections

Catbalogan, Samar (30 August 2005) -- Member so of the Katatapuran ng Pederasyon han Parag-uma han Samar (KAPPAS) believe that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can hurdle all the negative intrigues of her presidency and bounce back like the resilient economy.

Danilo Miralles, Chairman of the people's organization maintained his stand that due process should be observed whether we want to change any aspect of the government. As such he suggests that the public should stay calm and wait for the impeachment process to start. However, he said that the political turmoil in Manila should not stop the people in the rural areas like them to tend to their humble livelihood.

Miralles further noted that Samareños are patient people and still harbor faith in our dramatic institutions.

Dolores Nadonza, another member of the 300-strong people's group in Paranas, Samar said that the President was elected by the people; that whoever wants a change in leadership has to wait for elections and vote for whoever they think is best.

That is why, Nadonza said that an ample time is given for election activities because this is the time to ponder for one's choice and one has to think hard and long for that choice. Once we have chosen our leaders, it is not easy to replace them with just the wiles of anarchists. She offered her humble suggestion of asking the critiques to join forces with the government to start bigger achievements can be attained and that the poor can benefit.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye commented that the resiliency of the economy shows the resiliency of the Filipino, whether tending to farm or stall in the Philippines or earning for the family abroad.

He firmly acknowledged the fact that, "we are a nation and a people that can not be put down by political bickering and turmoil."

"We bolster democracy by our success in free enterprise and biting the bullet when crisis looms," added Bunye. He further stated that, "we are a heroic people who can prevail against all odds by our solidarity and ability to make the best out of any situation."

Finally, the press secretary summarized his statement by saying, "this country will kve forward under a regime of good government, fiscal responsibility, grassroots enterprise and the rule of law." (PIA-Samar)

"Buhay-buhay center" launched
by Alice E. Nicart
Borongan, Eastern Samar (30 August 2005) -- What used to be a byword for financially hard up local folks whenever they would indulged in alternative livelihood, "buhay-buhay" has been given its true meaning in Brgy. Libuton, Borongan, Eastern Samar as Mr. Jun Agda, Project Coordinator of the Center launched the would-be focal point of locally made products.

"Buhay-Buhay Center" situated in a cool Libuton hill environs is set to conduct the following trainings: Pulvoron Making, Tocino and Longganisa Making, Virgin Coconut Oil Making, Buko Pie Making, Computer Literacy and Computer Repair. The Center aims to create livelihood opportunities in E. Samar which indeed is in line with the vision of Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

In a radio interview with Agda, he was honest yet proud to say that he was able to access assistance from the National Anti-Poverty Commission. It is rather a small amount but he is confident he can make do of it only to help the jobless in this part of the province. He said that with the capability trainings that he and his team will give to interested parties, people can be surely equipped with the much needed expertise for one to earn a living. Besides, the vigorous coordinator mentioned of some financial organizations that he tied up with, which are willing to grant loans to groups or individuals to as much as P50,000.00 after attending the training.

The young and bubbly proprietor of Eastern Samar Institute of Technology (EASITECH) who now manages the BBC to while away his time while awaiting completion of other requirements to reopen his modest institute is all praises for NAPC's Secretary, Imelda M. Nicolas. According to him, the lady was generously facilitating so as to grant him the aid minus the long and tedious procedures he so expected of bureaucracy.

Asked if he could still avail of more assistance in the future, the friendly coordinator quipped: depending on my performance. At the moment, he concentrates on extending assistance to seemingly hopeless poor in giving them the necessary skill and start up capital to get busy and earn a living. As the interview progressed, Jun candidly shared his financial fall with hi struggling institute and his recent God-given chance to rise up again, morally and spiritually. A computer expert himself, he used to run the local computer but the latest changes the requirements of CHED have seemed to add up to this predicament. Nonetheless, he does not lose hope. Recently, he received CHED's order to open the high school department of his school, however, it came rather late for the class opening. At the moment, pending the permit from TESDA plus some more minor nitty-gritties needed for the full operation of EASITECH, Jun will focus on giving a hands-on orientation and training in the world of work.

True to his school's credo, ("WARAY KA! Waray sugad hin kaarisgado, waray sugad ka tangkod, waray sugad kabootam…Igdasig mo, WARAY KA!) Jun invites jobless and other interested Eastern Samareños to avail of said trainings with very much affordable training fees ranging from P50.00 to P250.00. (PIA-Eastern Samar)

Invest in Valencia, PGMA urges power-intensive industries
by Rachelle M. Nessia

Dumaguete City (30 August 2005) -- Investors whose industries rely heavily on electricity may soon find their roads leading to Oriental Negros after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo openly invited investors yesterday to invest in the province's geothermal power-heavy town of Valencia.

Pres. Arroyo said that investors can find economic relief in the 50 percent electric bill subsidy enjoyed by Valencia town as host to the geothermal steamfields of Philippine National Oil Company this side of Central Visayas, particularly in the midst of apprehensions of an impending oil crisis

The President made the invitation during her visit to Oriental Negros yesterday to inspect the proposed P1.7-billion Palinpinon geothermal expansion project of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in Sitio Nasulo, Brgy. Puhagan, Valencia.

Valencia's 50 percent electric bill subsidy is shaved off from 80 percent of the multi-million royalty tax it is receiving from PNOC.

PNOC is tapping geothermal energy from Valencia's three hinterland barangays of Puhagan, Caidiocan and Malaunay through power plants producing roughly 195.5 megawatts of geothermal power.

For this year, the municipal government is receiving a royalty tax at an average of P12,664,000 M per quarter.

In his briefing before the President, PNOC President Paul Aquino said the Palinpinon geothermal project has the highest percentage utilization in the country of about 88 percent, making it the most efficient Napocor power plant in the country today.

PNOC is building what will be the third power plant in Palinpinon, a 20MW geothermal plant in Brgy. Puhagan costing about P1.7 billion and is pegged to generate between 20 to 25 MW of geothermal power out of the excess steam in Palinpinon geothermal plants.

Congratulating PNOC and Napocor for this project, Pres. Arroyo said, "it is important that we move away from oil-based fuel" as she disclosed that Philippines is now the no. 1 user of geothermal power in the world.

With the shadow of a power crisis looming ahead, the President has been inspecting energy projects around the country to promote the use of alternative fuel, paving the way for the country to attain independence from foreign oil supply.

Pres. Arroyo has proposed to Congress a P1.05T national budget for 2006 as a strategic weapon against the looming oil crisis and poverty.

According to local Napocor manager Engr. Rodolfo Pacaña, in 2004, the government was able to save on almost 2 million barrels of oil due to the operation of its various geothermal plants nationwide. "If we can load up to 100 percent to our quarry units, we can save around 2,772,000 barrels of crude oil every year."

The surge in oil prices in the world market is seen to ripple its way harshly into the country's economy. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said that in 2004, the country's oil import bill was pegged at $4.5 billion, while from January to May 2005, the country's oil already hit $2.31 billion.

Lotilla said that if the price of oil in the world market hikes up by another $10, the country's oil import bill would soar to $5.5 billion by yearend. (PIA)

OrNeg has high number of Filipinos leaving abroad
by Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (30 August 2005) -- Oriental Negros is among the provinces in the country from where a big number of Filipinos are leaving for abroad, disclosed officials from the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) who were in Dumaguete City recently to conduct an awareness campaign on issues concerning migration and intermarriages.

According to Ma. Regina Angela Gallas of CFO in a press conference conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here, between 1998 to 2004, around 4,887 Filipinos from the province left the country to work or live overseas. Of the total, almost half are from Dumaguete City with 2, 237.

In the period from 1993 to 2004, there was a total of 1,692 Negrenses who married foreigners, of which 696 are from Dumaguete.

Janet Ramos of CFO in the same activity disclosed that as of December 2004 already 8.08 million Filipinos left the country, or around 10 of the total Filipino population are now based overseas.

About 3.19 million of the total are permanent residents abroad. Some 70 % are in USA, 14% in Canada, 7% in Australia, 6% in Japan, 1% in Germany and .5% in United Kingdom.

Ramos said the number of Filipinos going abroad has been increasing in the recent years, and based on the trend, she said that the number is expected to increase in the following years.

There were a total of 55,137 Filipinos who left the country as immigrants in 2003, and this increased to 64,824 in 2004.

She said that an average of 300 to 350 Filipinos leaving the country as immigrants register for CFO's pre-departure and guidance counseling sessions daily.

CFO is an agency catering to Filipino immigrants, either through petition or intermarriage, and holds pre-departure and guidance counseling sessions for Filipinos about to leave the country.

The agency conducts annual awareness campaigns in provinces identified to have a high number of Filipino immigrants. (PIA)

TESDA marks 11th anniversary with significant milestones
Catbalogan, Samar (30 August 2005) -- There is a significant increase in the awareness of technical/vocational Tech Voc Programs, this was bared by Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Samar Provincila Director Cleta Omega.

In the weekly PIA program "Huruhimangraw" Omega disclosed that TESDA has turned 11 this year. TESDA is a product of the merging of agencies namely National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Apprenticeship Program, and the DepEd's Bureau of Technical Vocational Education (BTVE).

The lady director outlined the important milestones of TESDA's 11th year of existence. Among its significant contribution to education and youth opportunity is the availability of scholarships for Tech Voc courses from Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Omega also lauded the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Motiong and Basey and NGO PLAN Philippines for giving scholarships to poor but deserving youths. Close to a hundred scholars are presently enjoying the said benefits.

Randy Enarciso, 17 and Herman Basa, 22 both out of school youths from Tarangnan, Samar are both PLAN scholars enrolled at TESDA Regional Training Center for computer technician courses. Both are grateful with the opportunity given by PLAN and TESDA. Presently, they are now on apprenticeship in Catbalogan's internet district.

As for awards and recognition, the comely director cited one Rebecca Pascual who was a gold medalist in Ladies Dressmaking in a Skills Olympics held in 2001. Pascual has then joined the Samar State University as an instructor. Another awardee Edgedio Ignacio of TESDA Samar was a regional model employee in 2002 and the Best Community Training Employment Coordinator (CTEC) Purisima Sarzata from the Calbayog LGU in the year 2002 and 2003. All these recognition have given TESDA Samar an inspiration to strive for excellence, the lady director beamed.

Another grand project it will embark on is the Youth Profiling for Starring Careers in Christ the King College in Calbayog City. The program will assess skills and potentials of graduating high schoolers to guide them as to the courses that best fit them.

To give inspirations to TechVoc advocates, TESDA will also venture into the lives of TESDA graduates gainfully employed or are self-employed to share what good news is there to attract more techvoc takers among the youth.

Finally, Omega was beside herself with joy as she fondly remembers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's SONA when she mentioned issuing Executive Order 358 which means that hours spent in vocational training can be credited towards a college degree. This, Omega said, is a milestone most noteworthy for finally, their efforts have gained support and recognition from the highest executive of the land. (PIA-Samar)

Peace talks tuloy kahit kapus sa pondo
by CL Cadorna
Koronadal City (30 August 2005) -- Hindi lubhang nakaapekto sa kasalukuyang negosasyong pangkapayapaan na isinusulong ng gobyerno at ng MILF ang kakapusan sa pondo ng pamahalaan.

Ito ang pahayag ni Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza kamakalawa nang siya ay dumalaw kasama si Gng George Vibar ng European Commission sa iba’t-ibang foreign funded projects sa mga Muslim villages sa North Cotabato at ilang bayan ng Maguindanao.

Nagpapatuloy ang peace at development initiatives ng Malacanang sa bahaging ito ng Mindanao sa tulong na rin ng International donors at iba’t ibang humanitarian organizations mula sa ibang bansa.

Ayon kay Dureza, dapat tayong magpasalamat sa tulong ng mga foreign donors at sa kanilang mga suporta na makamit ang hinahangad nating kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng mga kumunidad na may problemang pangseguridad. Nangangahulugan lamang ito na patuloy ang kanilang pagtitiwala sa Arroyo administration.

Kabilang sa mga proyektong dinalaw nina Dureza at Vibar ay ang mga communal water systems, housing at livelihood ventures na tinataguyod ng iba’t ibang organisasyon ng European Union sa mga bayan ng Pagalungan at Datu Montawal sa Maguindanao.

Hangad ng Pangulong Arroyo na isulong ang usapang pangkapayapaan bilang bahagi ng kanyang reporma sa ilalim ng Ten Point Reform Agenda. (PIA)

Poverty is country's main problem - bishop
Naval, Biliran (30 August 2005) -- Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales observed that poverty and not politics is our country's main problem when he visited a poor community in Pasay City which is a bustling city.

His visit in the place was in a broad daylight but when he got into the shanty of a family nestled in a half-kilometer tunnel, he thought night had fallen.

Archbishop said that what we know about poverty will not compare to what he saw. It was noontime but you'll never see daylight in that tunnel.

The prelate was shocked of the depth of the poverty to which many Filipinos have fallen while the country engrossed itself in political scandal. Quietly, poverty has gone from bad to worse. The number of poor Filipinos has gone to 70% of the population which has never been this many before.

Archbishop Rosales said poverty should attract greater attention from the government and the public than the political turmoil sparked by allegations that President Gloria Arroyo had cheated in the 2004 national elections.

The government should confront this kind of poverty which is near destitution. The poor should not be left to their own devices while corrupt public officials, gambling operators, and druglords raked in huge amounts of money, he said.

We know that money is just being wasted and stolen. Take the case of gambling, legal or illegal, that thrives all over the country. Much money is lost in "sabong" which is supposedly legal. Every municipality has a cockpit, every Sunday the people are there. Jueteng, last two, mahjong, masiao, and even the very popular bingo are lucrative forms of gambling, he added

Though gambling seems entrenched in Philippine culture, this should never be an excuse for society to tolerate it, especially at the expense of the poor. There is so mush destructiveness in our culture. We have to change the mentality of the Filipinos, according to Rosales.

Malacañang agree with the assessment of Archbishop Rosales adding that the reforms being instituted by the administration are geared towards addressing poverty which is largely "incubated and fed" by a poisonous systemic malfunction and gridlock. The press for Charter Change along with an aggressive push for character change should be amplified. (PIA-Biliran)

More Filipinos into micro-enterprises to alleviate poverty - survey
Iloilo City (30 August 2005) -- The National Census and Statistics Office (NSO) 2002 survey showed that 91% of total establishments in the country are considered micro-enterprises.

Micro-enterprises are the smallest businesses set up by people with the smallest capital, and those with very limited or no access to credit.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that over four million families belonging to the lowest income strata have micro-enterprises. These include small vendors who sell fruits, snacks, cigarettes, candies, school supplies, clothes and practically any bargain item.

The BSP data showed that of the four million families that own micro-enterprises, only 1.2 million have access to micro-finance, leaving the face of the remaining more that 2.8 million in the hands of loan sharks.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo looks to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to provide the bulk of the 10 million jobs she hopes to create from 2004 to 2010.

There are studies, however, that showed that developing SMEs require expanding their access to credit. Monetary Board Member Antonino Alindogan, Jr. noted that for every peso lent to small borrowers, P2 is required for the government to monitor micro-financing.

He said that SME clienteles are perceived to be a very expensive market to serve because of the high costs of transactions, which could have been the cause of failure of microfinance in the past.

But the BSP has issued about nine circulars aimed at setting in place a regulatory environment that is essential in the development of sustainable microfinance institutions and provide incentives for banks to engage in microfinance operations.

Among these incentives are the exemption to the moratorium imposed by BSP on the establishment of new banks and branches.

BSP has also set some measures to protect the financial system from unsound practices and ensure that borrowers will not be charged exorbitant fees.

This is, likewise true, with multilateral agencies, like the Asian development bank, the World Bank’s International Finance Corp., which have also put in resources to help expand access to microfinance. (PIA-6)

Arroyo administration determined to pay country's debt
Naval, Biliran (30 August 2005) -- Despite how big it will cost the government to pay its obligations, the Arroyo administration set aside a considerable amount as part of the 2006 national budget for the payment of the country's debt.

In the proposed 2006 national budget submitted to Congress for approval, the Arroyo administration allocated some P340 billion or one-third of the P1.05 trillion proposed 2006 national budget for debt servicing.

Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr. of Camarines Sur, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations reported that the proposed interest payment is P38.3 billion bigger than this year's P301.7 billion.

Rep. Andaya continued that real debt service allocations would jump to P721.7 billion if the proposed budget for principal amortization of P381 billion was included in the General Appropriations Act.

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio Bunye stated that it is the responsibility of an honest borrower to pay his debtors.

It can be noted that the country's debt has been acquired from the chain of borrowings that can be traced back to past administrations.

Sec. Bunye explained that the country must pay its past and present debts and sternly warned that non-payment of it would cause severe economic sanctions that will ruin the Philippine economy.

The primary consideration why the Arroyo administration is determined to pay country's debt is to break the heavy burden on the back of present and rising generations.

It was estimated that the country will have to pay P931 million in interest payments a day or P8,306 a year for every Filipino based on the P721.7 billion says Rep. Andaya in a news report.

Notwithstanding the big figure intended for debt payments, the President is determined to save the country's children from suffering these obligations.

In order to meet the financial requirement in the proposed 2006 national budget, the government will raise revenues from those who can afford like the implementation of E-VAT which is still pending in the Supreme Court.

In spite of the bigger chunk allocated for debt servicing, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo maintains her stand that the 2006 national budget submitted for approval in Congress is vital to the realization of the goals in uplifting the lives of the people through better infrastructure, quality education, law and order and social services that would invite investors and create more jobs. (PIA-Biliran)

P1 million GMA fund used to plant fruit tress
Libagon, Southern Leyte (30 August 2005) -- The P1 Million received by the municipality from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about three years ago was channeled to farmers for them to plant various varieties of fruit trees.

This was disclosed by Mayor Rizalina Espina during the first-ever "PIA Kapihan sa Panaon" forum supported by Plan International, an NGO which was held at the rooftop of a new two-story town building here August 24.

Asked about her priority programs for the development of the municipality, Mayor Espina said her prime focus was in the field of agriculture, saying the GMA money she got in the second year of her first term was intended for this purpose, with particular focus on the planting of fruit-bearing trees.

She said the money was loaned interest-free to marginal farmers with the understanding that they use it to propagate the planting of fruit trees.

"The LGU had a counterpart of around P200,000.00 in kind to match with the GMA fund that we revived. I loaned it to farmers, those who are interested to plant fruit trees like lanzones, longkong, and rambutan," Mayor Espina said.

Based on the lending mechanics that was administered by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), the borrowed amount would be returned on a staggered basis after two years, until such time the farmers can harvest the fruits and so the whole amount can be returned and re-lent anew to other interested farmers, Mayor Espina explained.

Other guests during the Kapihan forum were Vice Mayor Aniceto Ranque and Sangguniang Bayan Member Paul Constantino Mantilla.

Selected high school students from Libagon Academy (LA) were invited to witness the first media inter-action with Libagon officials and were given time to pose questions as well.

Mayor Espina also discussed briefly other priority programs of her administration like the unrelenting campaign against illegal fishing, infrastructure and the setting aside of counterpart equity funds for school building under the TEEP and SEDIP programs.

There is only one public high school in Libagon, the Nahaong National High School, and the towns' counterpart fund for a SEDIP building was already deposited, Mayor Espina added. (PIA-Southern Leyte

Tips on saving gas
Iloilo City (30 August 2005) -- How can you save on gas?

But before you answer this question, consider the following facts:

According to Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla fuel consumption in the transport sector accounts 53 to 58 percent of the country’s oil requirements.
World oil prices hit historic highs this month with Dubai crude highest at $57.80 per barrel on August 12 and MOPS-based unleaded gasoline at $73.90 per barrel in August 15.
As a net importer of oil, the country is not spared from the negative effects of the runaway increase in oil prices, noting that every dollar increase in world oil prices translates to about $1.26 million additional foreign exchange requirements. The country’s annual oil demands stands at 126 million barrels.
The country’s oil import bill for the first five months of the year has increased by 27 percent to $2.3 billion from$ 1.8 billon despite the notable decline in the demand for oil by 8 percent during the same period a year ago.
With these facts, the benefits of a fuel conservation initiative cannot be undervalued. And to achieve result, everyone must be involved by taking part in the national effort to save fuel. For in so doing, we will not only be helping our country’s economy but also ourselves. Fuel saved is money saved.

The Department Of Energy says you are the best gas saving device! The driving technique of the individual behind the wheel is the most important single element in determining the fuel economy of any motor vehicle â€"car, utility vehicle, truck, bus, motorcycle, and trailer. One authority insists a careful driver can get at least 30 percent more mileage than what an average driver can, and 50 percent more than the wasteful one.

Here are some more of these gas savings tips from DoE:

Vehicle tuned up to operate at or close to sea level are less fuel efficient when they get to a higher elevation and vice versa due to difference in air density. Fill your fuel tank in the morning when it is cool. Never fill your tank to the brim. Drive off immediately after starting, but at a low speed. The engine will warp up faster and lubricate better. Do not let the motor idle for long. Turn off the engine. It takes less gasoline to restart the car than it takes to let it idle. Generally, there is no need to press the accelerator down to restart a warm engine.
Further, the DoE advises that the most efficient speed is between 75 to 90 kph. On a highway, maintain steady speed. Always keep a manual transmission in the highest gear possible without straining the engine. (PIA-6)

Malaybalay City ready for devinfo technology
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- IMPROVED access to information will result in better local administration and governance. This is the observation made by Mayor Florencio T. Flores Jr. of Malaybalay City during the 2nd Devinfo Users’ Training held on Aug. 1-3.

The training was aimed at providing city planners with further training on the Devinfo software and enhance their skills to set up and organize their data for easy storage, retrieval and referral, and to ensure data users of timely access to information, according to Regional Director Casimira V. Balandra of the National Economic and Development Authority in Northern Mindanao.

The Devinfo system provides access to statistical indicators classified according to sectors, goals, themes, and other data management schemes.

Developed by UNICEF, Devinfo is a free and user-friendly software application integrated with Microsoft office for easy presentation of data in tables, graphs, and maps.

Mayor Flores said with the readiness of the city in adopting Devinfo software, he expects the city agencies to use the stored information in planning, program implementation, monitoring, evaluation, advocacy, institutional strengthening, resource mobilization, and decision-making processes in a sustainable manner.

“With this technology, we will be able to heighten our capability in knowledge management,” said Herculano S. Ronolo, city planning and development coordinator.

Ronolo has been in the forefront in adopting the Devinfo system and was the one who initiated the conduct of trainings for the local staff.

He said aside from institutionalizing Devinfo in its data banking operations, the city is committed to set up a knowledge center that would serve as a repository of data and information, and cater to information needs of the local chief executives, program implementers, policy makers, researchers, and other stakeholders. (NEDA-10/Ragcom)

Philippine Civil Service marks 105th year
by Brent M. Bravo
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- For more than a hundred years of existence, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) continues its service at its very best.

The month of September marks the CSC’s 105th Founding Anniversary with the theme “Isulong Ang Dangal Ng Serbisyo Sibil”.

As in the previous years, the celebration kicks off with a parade participated in by different government agencies in the region on September 1 from the City Kiosk to the Pelaez Sports Center, where a “Hataw Na” exercise activity led by the Department of Tourism and Northern Mindanao Medical Center will be made, followed by fun-filled “Pinoy Games,” the Civil Service Commission regional office in Cagayan de Oro City announced.

To promote the lined-up activities for the month, the “Ugnayan at Balitaan in Region 10” will be held at the Philippine Information Agency on September 5 at 10AM to further drum up the observance, to be guested by representatives from agencies providing frontline services.

The activities in line for the month-long celebration include the “Bida Sila” on Sept. 9 at the SM Atrium, to recognize and pay tribute to the blue-collared workers in the province, co-hosted by the Regional Council of Personnel Officers.

The “Bike for Austerity and Environment Awareness,” an activity co-sponsored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which starts from the Pelaez Sports Center to various points in the city, will also be conducted on the same day.

For the bike run, registration fee is only P70, inclusive of snack and certificate.

On Sept. 16, the “Share a Life, Donate Blood” special blood letting program will take place at the CSC Training Hall.

On September 19 all government agencies will simultaneously hold flag raising ceremonies, including the singing of the Awit ng Serbisyo Sibil to signify oneness in the entire bureaucracy, including the holding of an inter-faith thanksgiving.

The agencies involved may also include physical fitness activities or may use the 30-minute aerobics program of the CSC entitled “Bidyo Ehersisyo, Bsiyo Ko’To.” VCD copies of the program are available at the CSC office for reproduction.

To culminate the celebration, the Parangal at Pasasalamat on Sept. 27 will honor exemplars in public service.

CSC is urging all government agencies to hang the 105th Anniversary streamer or banner starting September 1 and recite the Panunumpa ng Watawat and Panunumpa Ng Lingkod Bayan to mark the traditional, simple but meaningful celebration, and also in line with the austerity measures of the government. (PIA-10)

Bicol business week opens today
by AB Calleja
NAGA CITY (30 August 2005) -- The 1st Bicol Business Week sponsored by the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), in partnership with the city government opens today, at the Civic Center here.

Revolving on the theme “Make it Bicol”, the weeklong regional business activity will showcase and promote Bicol’s best of businesses and provide investment opportunities that will spur the economic growth and development of the region.

MNCCI president Nicolas Beda Priela said it will serve as venue for business matching/networking and updates on the recent technology and product trends.

Priela added that aside from its highlight on the best of Bicol’s products, construction, ICT, inventors, jobs, agri-aqua exhibits and fairs, conferences and fora will be conducted simultaneously with the other activities.

“Over 2,000 participants, exhibitors and guests are expected to attend and participate from local chambers of commerce and industry, local government units, private sectors, academe, government and non-government organizations supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”

Lined-up likewise are the Bicol Skills Summit, Technology Transfer and Investment Forum and the Bicol Businessmen’s Symposium.

The Bicol Businessmen’s Symposium set September 3 at the Naga Regent Hotel will delve on important topics on Agri-Aqua, ICT, Construction. Historical Perspective on Business will be presented and discussed by business experts from the different sectors

The recognition and awards of the “Prominent Bicolano Business Icons” after the symposium will be the culminating activity of the Bicol Business Week. (PIA)

DOE lists energy conservation measures
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- THE Department of Energy has proposed several measures that will decrease the country’s fuel consumption based on different diesel prices threshold.

Three scenarios have been used as basis for the measures, including the current situation with diesel retailing for an average of P29 a liter scenario; with diesel at P40/liter; and with P50/liter.

These recommended measures are expected to cut the country’s fuel consumption by 1.34 million barrels of fuel or an equivalent savings of close to P41 billion a year:

Setting of temperature levels of air-conditioning at 25 degrees Celsius;
Use neon signs only from 9 PM to 1 AM;
Reduce mall hours by an hour a day;
Limit the operating hours of gasoline stations;
Boosting the impact tariff on guzzlers;
Strict implementation of speed limit of 80 km/hour on highways;
Banning of night golf;
Interacting power capacitors in government buildings;
Conducting an audit of commercial and industrial establishments; and
Enhancing the implementation of energy efficiency programs across all sectors.
Reducing mall hours by an hour a day, for example, will cut the country’s final requirements by 49 million barrels of fuel oil equivalent to a year, resulting in corresponding savings of 149,000 barrels of fuel oil or P450.8 million.

Gas stations not located in traffic-heavy thoroughfares will close from midnight to 4 AM to save on electricity and fuel.

The Department of Labor and Employment shall impose staggered working hours in commercial and industrial working hours in a day or week for all businesses, while the Department of Trade and Industry may restrict the number of hours that business and entertainmet establishments may operate.

All government agecies, state-run corporations, and universities shall implement a gas rationing scheme to enable them to reduce their monthly fuel consumption by 10%.

All government vehicles would be restricted to essential activities and weekend travel would be banned.

There will be carpooling express lanes; support for the use of FX taxis as an alternative to limited occupancy caps; encouragement of the use of liquefied petroleum gas and other alterative fuels ad transport fuels suspension of the 10 AM- 3 PM open window provision color coding scheme and the implementation of nine-day work cycle for government agencies and public schools.

Government agencies and public schools will have to follow a four-day work cycle. An odd-even license plate fueling restriction system will take effect, color-coding scheme restrictions will be extended from one day to two days, and power generation agencies will be required to use alternative and cheaper fuels.

Uninterruptible power supply will be implemented in Visayas and Mindanao and will be required to implement measures that will enable them to achive a 10-percent reduction in electricity consumption.

These measures are expected to generate savings of 42.23 million barrels of fuel equivalent to P126.78 billion in a year. (DOE/PIA-10)

Crime Prevention Week begins Sept. 1
by Dante E. Coloma
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- “Barangay at Mamamayan Magkaisa: Hadlangan ang Krimen” is the rallying call of the National Police Commission (NaPolCom), which will observe its 11th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) on September 1-7, 2005.

With its slogan “Barangay Linisin, Krimen Alisin,” the celebrations aim to showcase the importance of community involvement and participation, notably at the barangay level, in the prevention of crime.

The NCPW Technical Working Group has lined up various activities to be undertaken during the week-long celebration.

A mass celebrated at the St. Augustine Cathedral on August 31 will formally open the festivities, followed by an Alay Lakad and an opening program to be attended by the member agencies of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) and the local governments of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

For the whole month of September, the Philippine Public Safety College Regional Training School (PPSC RTS-10) will then tour public and private schools in the city, holding seminars on the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Discussions will focus on the five pillars of the CJS, namely: Law Enforcement, Community, Courts, Prosecution and Jail.

Meanwhile, a dental outreach mission, in partnership with Lourdes College, will be conducted on September 2 in Opol town, Misamis Oriental, while on September 5 a bloodletting activity with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) will be done at the NAPOLCOM regional office.

Blood donors will be Criminology students of Liceo de Cagayan University, Capitol University, Southern Philippines College and the Cagayan de Oro College.

Bloodletting has been a regular activity of the past two Crime Prevention Week celebrations. It has been well received by the community, more so at this time when blood donations are much needed for dengue patients.

A symposium on RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, at the VIP Hotel round out the week’s activities. Selected barangay officials have been invited to attend the said symposium.

For further information, contact the National Police Commission-10, (088) 857-5402 and (08822) 726-342. (PIA-10)

Palace extols Pinoys for economic resiliency
MANILA (30 August 2005) -- Malacañang has extolled the Filipino people for their resiliency, whether tending to farm or stall in the Philippines or earning for the family abroad, as this reflects the resiliency of the country's economy.

The Palace's remark was relayed by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye after the economy posted a modest growth in the second quarter of the year despite surging oil prices and the adverse effects of El Niño on farm output.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential Spokesman, said the Philippines and the Filipino people cannot be put down by political bickering and turmoil.

He cited the nation with bolstered democracy by its success in free enterprise and biting the bullet when crisis looms, and described Filipinos as heroic people who can prevail against all odds by solidarity and ability to make the best out of any situation.

Bunye added that this country will move forward under a regime of good government, fiscal responsibility, grassroots enterprise, and the rule of law. (PIA-MMIO)

Commentary: PGMA leads national campaign for energy conservation
by Cecil Cadorna
Koronadal City (30 August 2005) -- A hands-on President as she has always been all along, President Gloria-Macapagal arroyo is leading the nation in her call for every Filipino to close ranks and actively involve in the nationwide campaign to conserve energy.

The President call came at a time when global concern on the effects of unstable movement of crude oil prices in the world market starts to snowball.

This week, President arroyo went live on national televisions to prod every Filipino to reduce energy consumption while at the same time introduce the new members of the Energy Audit Team tasked to monitor and carry out the implementation of the conservation measures.

The Department of Energy came out with its proposed energy conservation measures that aims to decrease the country’s fuel consumption. It says that the recommended measures are expected to cut the country’s fuel consumption by 1.34 million barrels of fuel which is equivalent to 41 billion per year.

In their recommended measures the energy department proposed the following pointers.

Setting the temperature levels of air conditioning at 25 degrees.
Use neon signs only from 9PM to 1PM
Reducing mall hours by an hour a day. It will cut the country’s fuel requirements by 49 million barrels of fuel oil equivalent per year, resulting in corresponding savings of 149,000 barrels of fuel oil equivalent to P450.8 M.
Limit the operating hours of gasoline stations
Boosting the import tariff on guzzlers
Strict implementation of speed limit of 80 km/hour on highways.
Banning night golf
Interacting power capacitors to government buildings
Conducting an audit of commercial and industrial buildings
Enhancing the implementation of energy efficiency program across all sectors.
All government agencies, state-run corporations and universities are expected to implement a gas rationing scheme to enable them to reduce their monthly fuel consumption by 10% while all government vehicles would be restricted to essential activities and weekend travel would be banned.

It is likewise proposed that the Visayas and Mindanao will have uninterrupted power supply and all will be required to implement measures that will enable them to achieve 10% reduction in electricity consumption.

We all hope to see good results as we begin to set aside comfort in our lifestyle and take heed of the needs of our time. This is reality and cannot be taken for granted.

Every Filipino has to share personal sacrifices for the sake of our country’s survival or sink together in proverbial ship we all are board. Shall we bite the bullet? (PIA)

Moreno concerned over impeachment, appeals for unity
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- Gov. Oscar S. Moreno of Misamis Oriental expressed concern over the current impeachment move against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by his former colleagues in Congress.

Moreno, who aired his concern during the 3rd Regional Key-3 Conference of the Boys Scouts of the Philippines, Eastern Mindanao Region held recently in Cagayan de Oro City, said while he believes that impeachment is the only door to remove a President, Vice-President, Chief and Justices of the Supreme Court, Ombudsman, etc., he is worried about the situation now.

“This was not the same during the 11th Congress when I filed an impeachment case against former Ombudsman Aniano Desierto. Then, only one congressman was needed to file for impeachment or a private citizen endorsed by a Congressman can do it,” he said.

During the 12th Congress, this was changed. A certain number of Congressmen has to be reached before an impeachment proceeding could be started.

And this is what is being followed now. Up to this moment, however, the signatories have not reached the desired figure. “Kulang pa gihapon hangtud karon (still the signatures are lacking in number). And this can drag on since there is no limit, no time frame for them to get those needed number of signatures,” he said.

“A situation like this demands that we transcend beyond our limits of wants and desires, beyond the horizon. What will happen if we continue to be like this? Sa tinuod lang, gikapuyan na ko sa ila (The truth is I am already tired of them) that I have stopped watching TV,” Moreno sighed.

“The opposition Congressmen will simply continue to apply pressure on the President. In the meantime, the President also uses her time and government resources to defend herself while the administration Congressmen will continue to put road blocks to stop the impeachment. Kinsa man ang alkanse (Who will stand to lose in the process)? What can we expect?” he asked.

Moreno, who also figured in the impeachment of Joseph Estrada said, “I did not do it simply because I was in the opposition, but because I felt it was my duty to do it. Congressman Francis Escudero then was in the administration. Mao nga dinhi sa Misamis Oriental, maningkamot na lang gyud mi (That’s why we here in Misamis Oriental will just have to do our best). We will just have to be self-reliant. Dili gyud mi magsalig sa (We will never depend on the) national government. We can do so many things if we only unite,“ Moreno stressed.

“Even if only one-half of the local government units all over the country will adopt the self-reliance scheme of governance by empowering themselves, we will be doing a miracle for the country already. We have to continue the moral transformation of liberating the national government from politics to generate participation on the enhancement of our resources to make the lives of our people better,” he also emphasized.

“Politics has become so polarized that the opposition congressmen, as well as those of the administration, have been having factions within their ranks. If we all unite to build trust on each other, I am sure it will be a good start to make a new beginning” Moreno added. (PIA-10)

Public asked to brace for worsening of oil crisis
Cebu City (30 August 2005) -- A Malacañang official asked the public to brace for harsher times ahead since the possibility for gasoline to hit the P50/liter and diesel at P45-47/liter in the next few months is not far from reach.

Sec. Renato S. Velasco, Director General of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), said world prices of fuel soaring to records high and currently pegged at US$70/barrel may increase by October or November due to the demand of countries like the US for their winter season needs. Countries enjoying four seasons use higher fuel consumption during the winter period for their heaters.

The Philippines on the other hand, is 90-95 percent dependent on imported oil so any increases in the prices of fuel in the global market will have adverse impact and domino effects to our national economy, Velasco told government information officers during its recent annual gathering in Bohol.

Velasco said the emerging oil crisis is far worse than the political crisis facing the nation. He then told the info officers from regional line agencies and local government units in Central Visayas to help the national government make the people understand that the oil crisis is not brought about by any government program or policy. Velasco made the appeal amid fears that government may be blamed on the oil situation.


Factors to the oil crisis

The law of supply and demand dictates the prices of oil and various commodities, Velasco explained and cited the intense population growth of China and India as key examples.

For the past five years, China has been consuming 1M barrels of oil everyday compared to the Philippines that only utilizes 125M barrels a year. Because of this rising demand, the oil reserves of 2.5B barrels have been depleted to 1.7-1.5B barrels, Velasco declared.

Another factor cited is the continuing unrest in the Middle East and other oil producing nations like Venezuela and Norway. With their instability, oil production has suffered and with the low supply enters speculations that could trigger hikes in pump prices.

The third factor mentioned is the higher consumption demand of cold countries during the winter period.

Velasco bared President Arroyo's bold initiatives to address the oil crisis included AO 126 mandating all branches of government including LGUs to cut fuel consumption by 10 percent on top of the order to decrease fuel and power use by 10 percent under AO 103 or the austerity measures.

The austerity program has earned P300 M savings for the government in two months in April and May, this year during the implementation of the four-day workweek, Velasco stressed.

The long-term solution in addressing the aggravating oil problem is the development of alternative sources of energy. (PIA-7)

Strong economy helps thwart ‘ibagsak Gloria’ plots - Tiglao
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob
Cagayan de Oro City (30 August 2005) -- It is the strong economy under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which is helping thwart all the “Ibagsak Gloria” plots.

This is the assessment of Secretary Rigoberto D. Tiglao of the Presidential Management Staff who said that other than the weaknesses of the charges against the President, the strong economy under her administration is one answer to the question why the “Gloria Ibagsak” crowd, despite all the sophisticated and well-funded plots and propaganda it has made against her, can’t prod a People Power revolt.

Tiglao said the economy is important in understanding our past two EDSA’s. Due to massive cronyism during the Marcos regime, the economy was in crisis by 1984 and made inevitable the first EDSA in 1986.

Likewise, Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s drinking and mahjong sprees, according to Tiglao, kept him away from making decisions to lead the economy out of the Asian-wide financial crisis that started in1997.

The political crisis that broke out under Marcos and Estrada, because of entirely non-economic reasons, such as the Ninoy assassination in 1983 and Chavit Singson’s expose in 2000, only further weakened the troubled economies of each period. “These, in turn, deepened the political crisis that confronted them, resulting in their ouster,” Tiglao said.

In contrast, despite the plots against President Gloria since 2001, the economy in the past four years under her has become stronger.

The economy, in fact, registered its highest growth yet the lowest inflation under the Arroyo presidency compared to the administrations of the three past Presidents as shown by the growth rate measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inflation rates (IR) below:

Aquino with average GDP growth rate of 3.8% and IR of 10.4%, Ramos, GDP of 3.7%, IR of 7.6%, Estrada, GDP of 2.8%, IR of 6% and Arroyo, GDP of 4% and IR of 5.2%.

“There is an unmistakable economic momentum. Growing only 1.3% in the 1st quarter of 2001 when she assumed office, the GDP growth rate has accelerated to 6.4% by the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2004, slowed down this year only by the oil crisis,” Tiglao said..

Jobs generated annually, measured by year-on-year increases in the number of employed persons, have seen the biggest number under Arroyo.

Take a look at these figures for each president detailing the number of years, total persons employed during his/her term (TPEDT) and average of persons employed per year (APEPY):

Aquino, 6 yrs., TPEDT of 4,800,000 and APEPY of 800,000; Ramos, 6 yrs., TPEDT of 3,774,000 and APEPY of 686,000; Estrada, 2+ yrs, TPEDT of 405,000 and APEPY of 162,000 and Arroyo, 3.5 yrs., TPEDT of 3,643,000 and APEPY of 1,214,000.

On the other hand, Tiglao said the economic growth under President Arroyo has helped the poorest since the poverty incidence has gone down, from 27.5 % in 2000 to 24.7% in 2003.

“This means 1 million Filipinos getting out of the poverty quagmire in just 3 years. Wealth distribution has also improved, as shown in the percentage changes in the shares of the different economic groups in the national income,” he said.

Under Arroyo’s watch, the percentage share of the richest 10th decile has declined by 1.5%, with the nearly corresponding increase in the share of the poorest deciles.

“But it’s not that the rich are being terribly impoverished under Gloria’s term as vouched by our stock market performance: Indonesia with stock market growth of 8.8%, Korea, 8.3%, RP, 5.8%, Singapore, 4.5%, Malaysia, -5.1% and Hongkong, -2.6%. Compared to these countries of the region, clearly, we are the 3rd best performer, this year,” Tiglao said.

In contrast, massive stock manipulations involving the SSS and other state funds occurred in 2000, triggering a near-meltdown of the bourse.

Tiglao said the two economic values that react immediately to political disturbances, the exchange and interest rates, behaved quite differently during Erap’s and now Gloria’s troubled months.

During Erap’s crisis that started mid-2000, the peso exchange rate (PER) fell from P43 to the dollar to P51, a huge P8-loss in our currency value, foreboding a chaotic period unless Estrada was ousted. That, certainly, convinced the elite to junk him as soon as possible, he said.

On the contrary, since the current turmoil started in June, the PER has held steady at the P56-level. This, despite the fact that crude oil prices have zoomed up to their highest levels in 20 years, putting tremendous pressure on the peso’s values.

Interest rates, represented by the 91-day treasury bill rates (TBR), remained high at the10-percent levels in the months before Estrada’s fall. In contrast, this year, the TBR have softened, from 7.7% at the start of the year to the latest 5.8%.

Answering the question of the coming months, Tiglao said, “Business firms are expecting that the political storm will be ending soon.”

A Bangko Sentral poll of 839 firms--that’s more than double the 300 respondents in Pulse Asia’s surveys--showed that businessmen are forecasting a better business climate in the 4th quarter, with the outlook index for that period measured at 18.3%. “This is a reversal of the negative or pessimistic 10.4 % index for the 3rd quarter of the year,” Tiglao added. ( PIA-10)

Commentary: Economy grows amid political turmoil
By Aurora J. Casimpan
Tacloban City (30 August 2005) -- Despite the preoccupation of some sectors and some opposition legislators to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, starting with the massing of people forces to the filing of the impeachment complaint, the economy has not been adversely affected as predicted by doomsayers.

Instead of being pulled down, the economy posted a 4.8% growth rate notwithstanding the combined intervention of the global rise of oil prices and the climatic change in the country. Accordingly, the economy like its people has the ability to just bounce around, or be resilient amidst all adversity and land back with a winning number.

Though unable to post the targeted 5.3% growth rate, the economic growth is still a winner.

This phenomenon shows that Filipinos will not wait for leaders to show them the way to survive but will instead find ways to save himself. The posted growth rate shows that turmoil in the name of politics will not deter the Filipino to continue working for himself and for the country's growth. If there are leaders, even if just a few, who show sincerity in showing how the country should move forward, the people will move with those few leaders.

Political bickerings are nothing new in the country and people look at it with jaundiced eyes. The situation usually exhausts itself and while politicians are grandstanding over who is the best, the people goes about the business of surviving.

Hopefully, this country's political leaders will set aside their differences and unite under a regime of good government, fiscal responsibility, grassroots enterprise and the rule of law. The people are waiting for their leaders to join them and work together in looking for oil alternatives and help in the implementation of the government's policies in energy conservation. (PIA-8)

Public info officers told to report national government's achievements
Tagbilaran City (30 August 2005) -- League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) president Bohol Gov. Erico B. Aumentado issued a challenge to government information officers in the region to report the more positive component of the administration's achievements and performance as purveyors of information.

Aumentado made the challenge amid the slanted reports of media particularly in Manila that caps political scandals like the jueteng issue, 'Garci' tape and the impeachment complaint as daily headline stories rather than focus on the policy direction of government to enhance the country's economy and well-being of the people.

In developed countries like the United States and Singapore, developmental journalism is given emphasis so their people will know what their government is doing, according to Aumentado.

"You should do your share in giving light to our people by being biased to developmental communication," Aumentado told the over 50 government information officers from regional line agencies and local government units during the 16th Consultative Conference of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol August 24-26, 2005.

Aumentado, who is also the president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), admitted that the government is losing in the propaganda war of the opposition and leftists combined. These few people in Metro Manila of which majority are from the left and the opposition who demand for Pres. Arroyo's ouster because they want her to step down are inflicting more damage by worsening the divisiveness among the Filipino people, Aumentado added.

The Bohol Governor said it is time to harness the public information officers in the rural areas to combat the disinformation campaign by anti-Arroyo groups.

Bohol is solid PGMA

Without the support of Pres. Arroyo, Bohol would not have garnered big infrastructure projects that need funding from the national government, Aumentado said.

Aumentado cited the Bohol Circumferential Road Phase II that costs P2.3B and the P1.5B Bohol Circumferential Road Phase 3 as flagship projects of the Arroyo administration. Another project funding given by the national government is on irrigation which is halfway complete to add 24,000 has. of irrigated land and affirm Bohol's standing as top agricultural producer in the region.

Pres. Arroyo likewise, committed to the construction of the Panglao International Airport through E.O. 178 that states for the processing of land acquisition that is now under review for feasibility study, Aumentado said. The Panglao International Airport worth about P3.2B is the biggest project of Pres. Arroyo, noted the LLP and ULAP president.

Bohol will always stand by the President as our way of showing our gratitude because of the mega infra projects she has given to our province, Aumentado said. (PIA-7)

Low-cost housing project underway in Labo town
Labo, Camarines Norte (30 August 2005) -- The Labo municipal government entered into a joint venture agreement with the Privatization Management Office (PMO) and the J. Marbella Construction and Supply for the development of a 4.29 hectares of land located at Bgy. Mabilo I into a low-cost housing project to benefit low-income government and private employees qualified under the Expanded Housing Loan Program (EHLP) of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF).

The agreement was signed following the cornerstone laying held August 23 at the project site, a kilometer away from the town proper.

The project conceptualized years ago by the municipal government to meet the demands of the growing population is being pushed through by the administration of Mayor Winifredo B. Oco.

The 4.29 hectare lot is owned by the PMO, the trustee of government-owned land throughout the country.

At the agreement signing the PMO was represented by its Chief Privatization Officer Ricardo S. Canlas, while the developer, J. Marbella Construction and Supply, a duly licensed contractor was represented by its owner/proprietor Jerry A. Luz.

The project, which shall be known as the Villa Mabilo Homes, shall generate a total of 294 houses and lot units which shall be offered or amortization to qualified applicants for 25 years. The whole project costs P92.39 million.

According to Mayor Oco, the project shall be implemented at no cost for the local government. However, he appealed to all town officials and employees to help in the promotion and marketing of the project to other public and private employees, proprietors, teachers, AFP and PNP personnel as well as other applicants.

Eng’r. Albert Perfecto, Bicol regional manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA) representing the PMO, congratulated the efforts of the municipal government in upholding the 10-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as he reiterated his agency’s support to the LGU in providing low-cost housing facilities to the people of Labo. (LVLagatuz, PIA Cams. Norte)

Transco to hold anti-Pilferage summit
Bacolod City (30 August 2005) -- The National Transmission Corporation will conduct an Anti-Pilferage Summit on Thursday 8:00 am, September 1, 2005 at the Sugarland Hotel.

Invited speakers include Col. Jogy Leo Fojas, Commanding Officer of the 303rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. He will speak on the "Role of the AFP in the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Particularly on Power Line." Regional Mobile Group Director Col. Pedro Merced will speak on the same topic in behalf of the Philippine National Police.

National Transmission Commission Department Manager for Negros Area Zosimo Briones will speak on the "Role of Transco in Maintaining Economic Stability of the Province of Negros Occidental." while Engr. Nilo Agudelo, Transco Safety Engineer, while speak on the "Effects of Pilferage on Transco Transmission Assets."

Prosecutor Montano Medel of the Department of Justice will discuss on the prosecution of pilferage cases, while Transco lawyers Perla Centeno and Ma. Teresa Sales will speak on Anti Pilferage/ Anti-Fencing Laws

Engr. Briones told PIA that the aim of the summit is to elicit the help of the LGUs, government agencies and other entities in protecting power lines from pilferage. He also hopes to coordinate the efforts of each sector to form a strong network against the perpetrators of this illegal act.

Records from the Transco showed that the company lost a total of P2.5 million worth of angle bars since last year due to pilferage. It lost P1.3 in damage due to toppled towers in Brgy. Bagtic Silay City this year.

The Arroyo administration is presently campaigning for energy conservation nationwide with the successive increase of crude oil abroad. Part of the plan is to provide security to critical facilities such as power stations and lines to ensure a steady supply of energy in the country. (PIA-LOL)

"Spoiled brats," Palace calls walk-out Congressmen
MANILA (31 August 2005) -- "Spoiled brats."

This was how Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye described the manners of Congressmen endorsing the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who walked out of the House of Representatives' justice committee hearing.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential Spokesman, said the act was a walk-out on democracy and an insult on the Filipino people since democracy triumphed in a transparent and credible manner was cast to dirt by the opposition.

The Palace official pointed out that President Arroyo followed the rules from the very start of the political exercise, taking in all the attacks and insidious machinations to undermine her person and office, and expressed expectations of the opposition doing the same.

"Fair play and statesmanship must be the hallmark of all representatives of the Filipino people - not the manner of a spoiled brat," Bunye added. (PIA-MMIO)

RPOC spearheads national crime prevention week in Region 8
By Marivic A. Alcober
Tacloban City (31 August 2005) -- The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in region 8 will spearhead series of activities relative to the celebration of the National Crime Prevention Week in Region 8, which will be on September 1-7, 2005 pursuant to the mandate of Presidential Proclamation No. 461dated August 31, 1994 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

A series of activities have been prepared and will be implemented to highlight the celebration and give importance to the event.

This year's celebration carries the theme "Barangay at Mamayan Magkaisa: Hadlangan ang Krimen" with the slogan "Barangay Linisin, Krimen Alisin".

To formally open the event, a motorcade will be conducted around the city of Tacloban on the first day of the celebration. This will be participated in by RPOC member agencies, the Tacloban City government, Leyte Provincial government and the Liga ng Mga Barangay. To add color to the opening day, streamers will be hanged on one side of the vehicles and there will be 12 balloons to be released after the opening ceremony.

On September 2, a Crime Prevention Seminar which will be coordinated by the Bureau of Jail Management, will be held at the Tacloban City Jail with inmates as participants. Lecturers will come from the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), and the Parole and Probation Office.

This will be followed by a press conference at the Express It At The Park on September 3 with guests coming from the different participating agencies of the RPOC.

Crime/Drug Prevention Symposium will be conducted on the 5th day with students from St. Paul's Business School of Tacloban as participants. During this symposium, Police Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon will be the guest speaker. After the symposium, an "Ugnayan sa Barangay" to be held in Brgy. Diit, Tacloban city will take place on the following day.

To culminate the weeklong activity, a closing program will be held after a parade around the City of Tacloban. During the program, there will be a launching of the Search for Outstanding Barangay Peace & Order Committee (BPOC) and Student Crime Prevention Committee (SCPC). (PIA-8)

Malacañang feels glad Hyatt 10 joined opposition
MANILA (31 August 2005) -- Malacañang has expressed gladness that the so-called Hyatt 10 joined the ranks of the opposition.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the statement after former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman accused President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of orchestrating the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano against the Chief Executive.

The Presidential Spokesman said the position and standing of the resigned members of the official family on the impeachment issues will be better understood now by the Filipino people.

He pointed out that as politicians they must abide by the rules of statesmanship and fair play that is demanded by the democratic system, adding that muckraking is not the way to serve the people. (PIA-MMIO)

Gov't welcomes SC action on E-VAT
MANILA (31 August 2005) -- Palace has welcomed the expeditious action of the Supreme Court to resolve the petition questioning the implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT).

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye issued the statement after the High Court decided to hold a special session on Thursday to speed up its final decision on the new tax measure.

Bunye, who is also the Presidential Spokesman, expressed confidence that, as always, the High Court will rule in the paramount public interest. (PIA-MMIO)

Commentary: Of men, responsibility and cooperation
By Aurora J. Casimpan
Tacloban City (31 August 2005) -- When men cannot argue, they fight. When a call to a fight is not allowed or simply ignored, they walk out. And when they walk out, they leave scattered paper trail and invectives and worse threats.

Such was the picture of lawmakers seen throughout the Philippine archipelago and the world. What else will happen next - to be witnessed again? Can worse be any better?

The halls of Congress are hallowed and its members respectable. The men and women are there as representatives of people who elected them because of the belief they are models of decorum - of intellect of what is good and the best in man. But what are these men and women showing to the people and the world at large?

What has suddenly become of Congress? Has it become a venue for fight and tantrums? Discussion for the good of the country and subsequent legislations of laws has been relegated to the sides?

Time and again, the rule of law is invoked. Civilized men like our lawmakers are expected to follow the law. Ordinary men like the citizens of the country, when they go against the law are punished accordingly.

So what happens if it is the lawmakers who do not follow the rule of law?

So many questions and no forthcoming answers.

Meanwhile, the impeachment proceeding is on. Whatever is the outcome should be respected by all sectors. The case is in Congress - so let all stakeholders leave it there. Let it end there and not on the streets. There are other more important things to do than dwell on it. As of now, all hands should unite in looking at the alternative source of oil and on how the country can profit on its use. Nature has a way of getting back on those who neglects what is offered.

The Filipino is resilient and is forgiving. But for how long will he stay on the sideline and watch his country plunge downward. Enough of the differences - join hands in moving the country forward. A country's development can surely be done on the cooperative hands linked together to pull all men upwards.

The President is doing no less and other sectors as well. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has just pledged to help advocate the 2004-2010 Medium Term Development Plan after it signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Economic Development Authority. The show of support from a private group is a response to the President's call for all sectors of society to ensure the realization of the MTPDP and the Medium Term Regional Development Plans.

Impeachment or none, the President continues to work for the people. (PIA-8)

Government to pay off debts incurred during past administration
Naval, Biliran (31 August) -- In spite of varied reactions from the different sectors in society especially those that are against the former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, yet, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo upholds her stand to pay off debts incurred during the Marcos regime and the past administrations.

Although the government is doubtful whether all debts will be honored but, a budget for serving interest payments has already been allocated. The amount comprises one-third of the proposed 2006 national budget which sums up to some P1.05-trillion.

According to Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Presidential Spokesperson, a responsible borrower has the obligation to pay his debt. He added that we must pay our present and past obligations so as not to receive penalties that will severely affect the Philippine economy.

As of now, the government is indebted to its foreign creditors amounting to some P3.87 trillion as of April this year.

Secretary Bunye added that the combined weight of rising oil prices and our debt payments play a heavy strain on the resources of the Philippine government.

"The government and the poor are the hardest hit. We need to get the fullest value of every peso we spend so that we can help poor families cope with inflation, maintain essential lifeline services and push the economy up to fill in more jobs" he said.

Furthermore, he said that the longer our political turmoil last, the deeper the hurt that is inflicted upon the public.

This is the time for our nation to act decisively on an issue of economic survival and the time to act is now. A common stand will enable us to keep our fiscal house in order, he added.

"The government will continue to honor its debts to international creditors as it gave assurance that the future generation of the country will no longer be burdened by foreign fiscal obligation. We will spare our children from suffering in this burden by raising revenues now from our own resources", Secretary Bunye further said. (PIA-Biliran)

Another 1M school building completed in Lazi
by Rizalie Calibo
Dumaguete City (31 August 2005) -- Another P1 million four-classroom school building was completed in Lazi this middle of the year.

Appropriated from Congressman Shane Fua's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the construction and repair of this school building in Lazi Elementary School was completed last July 30, ten days ahead of targeted schedule. This was made possible through the perseverance and team effort of the technical team of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the leadership of the district engineer, Construction Engr. Jerauld Villaverde stressed.

On the other hand, Engr. Gena Sugabo, Project-In-Charge, said that the construction of the said building was done in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the department that resulted to high quality of workmanship.

Mrs. Cresencia Boncawel, principal of the school, during the turn-over activity, expressed her gratitude to Congressman Shane Fua, Jr. for slicing a reasonable amount of his congressional funds to fund the project and to the DPWH as well for fast tracking the construction in time for this school year. She is optimistic of better times ahead for the children since the school has been producing professionals through the years.

"Our students can now enjoy the benefit of this school building. In fact, these were the same classrooms our governor and congressman had been entering during their early school days", Mrs. Boncawel said.

Meanwhile, James Dellosa, District Engineer of the DPWH said they have an enormous task that lies ahead of them. "As public servants, we will show to the Siquijodnons the real essence of public service. We really need to supervise and monitor closely all on-going projects based from the approved plans and specifications mandated by the department because if we do this, it will be more advantageous on the part of the government as it will become cost-effective", said Dellosa. (PIA)

DOH issues warning on tyhoid fever
Bacolod City (31 August 2005) -- The National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the Department of Health (DOH), warns the public against typhoid fever, a food and water-borne disease that usually occurs during the rainy season.

Dr. Eric Tayag, OIC, National Epidemiology Center said, they have recorded around 45 cases of typhoid fever in the National Capital Region alone from January to August of this year.

Signs and symptoms of typhoid fever include sustained high fever, headache, weakness, and loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal discomfort.

The following are the preventive measures against typhoid fever: boil water for drinking and cooking; cook food thoroughly and cover them later from flies; wash all vegetables and fruits well especially those that are to be eaten raw; do not buy street foods; wash hand thoroughly with soap and water especially after using the toilet, before food preparation and before eating; and keep surroundings clean to eliminate all possible breeding areas of flies.

"The public is advised to take note of the signs and symptoms of typhoid fever and to bring suspected cases to the nearest health center or hospital to avoid complications", Tayag added. (MB/ PIA)

LNAS, SSC ladderize programs
by Rizalie Calibo
Dumaguete City (31 August 2005) -- The TESDA-administered Lazi National Agricultural School (LNAS) & the Siquijor State College (SSC) have ladderized three of their respective regular programs namely: (1) Agricultural Technician Course - Bachelor in Agricultural Technology (ATC-BAT), (2) Hotel & Restaurant Services Technology - Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (HRST - BSHM), and (3) Textile & Apparel Technology - Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Major in Garment Trades (TAT - BSIT Garment Trades).

Under the program, a student can take up the first two years of his study at LNAS, graduate as a technician, and proceed to SSC for the remaining two years and graduate with the baccalaureate degree.

The programs were formally ladderized in a workshop jointly conducted by focal persons of both institutions at SSC on May 25, 2005. The program is in compliance with Executive Order No. 358 which provides for the interfacing and articulation of programs between Technical - Vocational Education & Training (TVET) and Higher Education (H.E.) thereby effectively removing barriers.

This is a welcome development for the communities in Lazi and the nearby areas who do not have the luxury of sending their college students for four straight years in Larena. (PIA)

Cebu bizmen tired of political drama in Congress
Cebu City (31 August) -- Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Robert Go said local businessmen are sick and tired of the melodramatic and highly televised telenovela in Congress referring to yesterday's walkout by opposition solons during the hearing of the impeachment complaint against Pres. Arroyo.

Go said the walkout by pro-impeachment solons is not a good gesture and creates a politically chaotic image of the country that could further derail our economic backlog as this could turn off foreign investors.

Any move to impeach the President should be done according to the rule of law since charges of election fraud and other offenses deem impeachable allegedly committed by the President have yet to be proven, Go added.

Go further said the local business community wants to close the book on the political drama frequently unfolding at the Lower House so that we could pick up the pieces and move on. It's time to start rebuilding businesses and reviving our slump economy because this is the only way to improve the lives of the Filipino people, of which majority are wallowing in deep poverty, the businessman stressed.

Because of the political circus in Manila that is constantly highlighted in media, Go said he expects a bleaker economic forecast that would drag on until the 4th quarter, this year.

Go advised the opposition to stop their political maneuvering just to impeach the President at all costs even beyond constitutional means. If they want to change the President, then let us wait for the next elections, Go ended.

Meanwhile, Cebu Municipal Mayors' League (CMML) president Mayor Ronald Alan Cesante disclosed that all town mayors in the province have pledged their full support to the President following the impeachment rap filed against her.

Cesante said municipal mayors in Cebu are hoping that the political situation in Manila will return back to normal as soon as possible. (PIA-7)

September is declared as development policy research month
Cebu City (31 August 2005) -- Based on Malacañang proclamation No. 247, September has been declared as "Development Policy Research Month."

The proclamation enjoins all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, the private sector, and the public to actively support the activities and programs lined-up for the "Development Policy Research month."

With the theme, "Services Industry: Growth driver for Economic Competitiveness," the observance gives focus on the role of the services industry to economic development and competitiveness. Services industry includes information and communications technology, business process outsourcing, medical education and audio-visual, among others.

The observance of development policy research month provides the means for promoting, enhancing, instilling and drawing nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and necessity of policy research as a tool for national socio-economic development. It will also ensure public's support to all activities that aims to advance the quality and standard of policy research in the country.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has been designated to coordinate all programs and activities that had been lined-up for the month. Some activities include consultative meetings, workshops and discussion forums, preparation and presentation of policy papers, production of posters and banners that can be displayed in institutions and agencies of government and the private sector. (PIA-Cebu)

Negros Occ. extends rice assistance to farmers
Bacolod City (31 August 2005) -- A total of 360 bags equivalent to 18,000 kilos of NFA rice are being distributed to 253 farmer-beneficiaries in five sites around the Northern Negros Forest Reserve, now known as the Northern Negros Natural Park.

The rice assistance is a Food-For-Work scheme of the Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and Rainforestation for Biodiversity Conservation Project of the Province of Negros Occidental, said Provincial Environment Management Officer Edwin Abanil.

The Province has allotted P2.65 million for the ANR Project which seeks to conserve and protect the forest biodiversity and provide good alternative income to upland farmers through the production of planting stocks, actual planting and maintenance of plantation, he added.

The project covers 250 hectares, of which 150 hectares are new project sites while 100 hectares are being maintained.

This is the first of four rice releases to farmer-beneficiaries in areas namely: Lantawan in Silay City, Magsaysay in Cadiz City, Gawahon in Victorias City, bunga in Don Salvador and Rizal in San Carlos City.

Abanil said the province has been implementing reforestation programs within the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) areas and its adjacent areas but there are still several non-ISF areas that need rehabilitation. Most of these areas are grasslands and brushlands with few scattered trees and other patches of naturally- growing vegetation. The ANR Project is an appropriate reforestation strategy in these areas because it is cheaper, faster and easier. Such areas should be given special attention, as these are mostly located near the forest, he said.

As part of his Environment Agenda, Gov. Joseph Marañon has increased the allocation of the Provincial Environment Management Office to P30 million this year to intensify efforts on watershed rehabilitation; coastal resource management; solid waste management initiatives; forest protection, regulation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations; and education, information and advocacy. (PEMO/PIA)

Teves cites need to improve tax collection
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- Finance Secretary Margarito Teves admitted to the banking sector that the country is in a tough situation although the economy is not doing too bad.

Teves was guest speaker during the recognition of outstanding Countryside Financial Institutions (CFIs) last Monday, August 29 at the Marco Polo Hotel.

Teves was joined by officers of the Land Bank of the Philippines headed by acting president and chief executive officer Gilda E. Pico.

He said the country's deficit is at P180 billion with a 3.5 percent growth domestic product.

Teves said it is a tough situation too for the collecting agencies which are still short of their targets.

He stressed the need to increase the collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

He however said that the over performance of the Bureau of Treasury (BOT) has compensated the shortfalls of BIR and Customs..

The government, he said has come up with measures to ensure efficient tax collection.

"When there is resources there will be local infrastructure projects as well as funds for other projects," he said.

Teves also recognized the support of the CFIs in the countryside.

He was even hinting that the CFIs be linked to international financing institutions to undertake projects especially in the countryside.

Meanwhile the finance secretary reminds the government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) to perform like the private sector and maximize profits.

He said it should undertake projects but with least cost for the government.

The government, he said should not engage in business where it doesn't have the competitive advantage.

"We do not need to go into business when we do not have the advantage," he said.

Teves was in Davao City for the first leg of the domestic road show on Republic Act. No. 9337 or the Reformed Value Added Tax. (PIA/pdbanzon) [top]

AGIO-7 holds infocaravan in Antequera
By Hazel Gloria
Cebu City (31 August 2005) -- More than six hundred (600) people from Antequera, Bohol benefited from the Medical - Dental Mission conducted by the Bohol Provincial Health Office on August 27, 2005 in cooperation with the Philippine Air Force, 302nd Inf Brigade, Philippine Navy, PNP and the medical team from Southwestern University and Sacred Heart Hospital, Cebu.

The Association of Government Information Officers in Region VII (AGIO) initiated the activity in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency and Local Government Unit of Antequera headed by Mayor Samuel Rebosura.

About thirty (30) regional line agencies joined the activity namely; GSIS, CSC, BFAR, PHILPOST, ATI, PAG-IBIG, PHIC, BIR, Bureau of Treasury, DOH, CDA, NBI, PVAO, DFA, PCIC, DENR-MGB, OCD, PNP, TESDA, DOLE, DPWH, CHED, NAVFORCEN, PAF, 51st Marine Batallion, PHO-Bohol, 302 INF Brigade, NSO, 3rd CRS-CRGV and PIA-7. Each agency was given the opportunity to share their programs and projects. Other services offered were entertaining queries or consultations, pass porting, issuance of NBI clearance, scholarship programs and distribution of IEC materials from the various government offices. The 3rd CRS-CRGV group conducted a film showing in the evening with the PAF.

In the same activity, Optometrists from Cebu Doctors College conducted free eye consultations and free eye glasses. The team from 51st Naval Reservists detailed in the area was responsible for the crowd control and physical arrangement while the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office provided the medicines that were used during the Infocar.

Mayor Rebosura, Vice Mayor Cecelia Rebosura welcomed the group while Isabelito Tongco, Chief of Staff of Cong. Edgar Chatto expressed appreciation and gratitude to the association as he promised to inform Cong. Chatto about the services rendered to Bohol. Tongco said he will encourage Cong. Chatto to share this kind of activity with Congress so that it may know of such an activity in region 7. Some members of the Association of United Development Information Officers in Bohol (AUDIO) who joined the infocar were also encouraged to conduct a similar activity.

For this year, the AGIO-7 had conducted three Information Caravans but it was the first time that was held outside of Cebu. AGIO president Josephine Layco said, the association would not have reached its accomplishments without the assistance of the Office of Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon, Local Government Unit of Antequera and the rest of the team. Layco said the AGIO-7 Information Caravan does not only focus in Cebu but also the neighboring provinces in the region that needs these kinds of services. Layco emphasized that the association's primary objective is to cater to the needs of the people and to bring the government closer to them. (Pia-Cebu)

Gov't economic team launches RVAT
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- The government economic team were in Davao recently to launch the 1st Leg of the Reformed Value Added Tax Domestic Roadshow

Finance secretary Margarito Teves; Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila; Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Bunag; Energy undersecretary Mel Ocampo; DOF Asec. Gil Beltran; DOF Usec. Noel Bonoan; DTI Usec. Zeny Maglaya; and DA Asec. Doy Salacup tackled Republic Act 9337, known as the Value -Added Tax Reform Law held at the grand ballroom of the Davao City Convention and Trade Center.

Almost 700 participants coming from the business sector, professionals, academe, accountants, gasoline dealers, civic groups, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI), Davao-Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), bookkeepers, small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), attended the RVAT forum and the VAT clinic discussion by forming sectoral groups.

A total of forty two (42) tri-media in Davao attended the press conference as part of a component of government's efforts in reducing fiscal crisis. Some media practitioners requested for a composite team that should be created coming from concerned government agencies for a sustained effort and massive campaign on RVAT salient provisions.

From Davao's 1st leg of a series of RVAT Law Domestic Roadshow nationwide carrying its banner as: "RVAT: Strong Reform, Solid Future", the group will proceed to Cebu City, then Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampangaa and Baguio City to widely spread the information the correct information on RVAT's salient features and discuss specific concerns of SMEs, food and energy.

The 1st RVAT Law Roadshow in Davao was an overwhelming success following a thorough discussion and queries on compliance and the implementing provisions of the new law.

Finance Secretary Teves, in his speech said the RVAT Reform Law, while painful, is still the most equitable way to generate revenue, as well as the least for the poor.

Since it is a consumption tax, those who consume the most, meaning the rich, will pay the most, Teves explained.

A budgetary crisis, on the other hand, would have a more severe impact on both the poor and the business community, since government would have no funds left to spend on social services or infrastructure, he added.

"We recognize that the VAT Reform Law is burdensome, especially in light of the escalating oil prices. Still, this is a bitter pill that we must take if our economy is to recover. We need to prioritize improving our fiscal position if we want to encourage local and international investments, achieve sustainable economic growth, and generate employment and income for our citizens," Secretary Teves said.

The RVAT Roadshow is being spearheaded by the DOF and the Investor Relations Office of the Philippine Government. The VAT information drive will then be cascaded further to the general public through the collaboration of their regional and local offices with local industry organizations and chambers of commerce. (PIA-RBPalacio)

Marina one-stop shop caters to needs of shipowners
Iloilo City (31 August 2005) -- Ship owners and operators need not go farther anymore in securing all documents required to be able to operate securely, legally and within the bounds of law as the Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) one-stop-shop will cater to all these needs.

The effort is part of the implementation of Republic Act 9295 known as “An Act Promoting the Development of Philippine Domestic Shipping, Shipbuilding, and Shiprepair and Ship Breaking, Ordaining Reforms in Government Policies Towards Shipping in the Philippines” which started in January this year. RA 9295 was signed and approved into law on May 3, 2004.

One of the main objectives of RA 9295 is to develop a strong and competitive domestic merchant fleet owned and controlled by Filipinos or by corporations at least sixty percent (60%) of which is owned by Filipinos and manned by qualified Filipino officers and crew. It functions as an employment base for our Filipino Seafarers.

The law also gives the Domestic Shipping Operators certain leeways and freedom in their business operations and encourages the improvement and upgrading of the existing domestic merchant marine fleet and Filipino crew to meet international standards. Other best feature is it ensures the development of a viable shipbuilding and ship repair industry to support the expansion and modernization of the Philippine domestic merchant marine fleet and its strict adherence to safety standards which will ensure the seaworthiness of all sea-borne structures.

The enactment of the law is perceived as a timely move by the present administration in terms of helping out the modernization and innovation processes of the Philippine Shipping Industry. (MARINA/PIA)

Town cooperative helps BIR step up revenue collection
Pavia, Iloilo (31 August 2005) -- The Pavia Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative (PEMC) has become a partner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in seeing to it that their members pay the right taxes to the government.

“We must be a model of good citizenship by paying our taxes and following government regulations on business,” Joy said.

The Cooperative is composed of about 249 members coming from the public market vendors, jeepney drivers, teachers and local government employees.

Joy Palmada, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the PEMC, said that it has become a primary requirement for both the vendors and the establishment owners to have updated business permits and for the latter to issue receipts.

To facilitate compliance of tax payments, the Cooperative first pay the local government in full and then charge each vendor according to the terms agreed.

The Coop even facilitates SSS and Philhealth membership requirements and monthly payments, charging only minimal service fee for the members. Even payment of ILECO bills is facilitated for members, Palmada added.

Ms. Palmada said that these services which the Coop has been providing are appreciated by the members especially in these times of economic hardships. Through the Coop, the members can avail of from P1,000 to P100,000, at an interest rate of 2 percent per month.

Further, the Coop supports 10 high school scholars who are children of cooperators, under its Student Education Cash Assistance Program (SECAP).

The PEMC under the management of Mr. Dan Quiapo, and its six employees, maintains a capital build-up of P2.2 million. It is backed up by a loan assistance of P300,000 from the Provincial government, with the municipality of Pavia, under Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta, as guarantor.

Moreover, the Cooperative is also sustained by an increasing credit line of about P4 million, by the land bank of the Philippines.

Susan P. Jovero, Municipal Information Officer designate, noted that the Cooperative has become a “lifestyle” for the Pavianhons, that oils the economic machinery of the town. (CDIO/PIA 6)

DTI: RVAT has minimal effect on prices of goods
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said it should be made clear that the Reformed Value-Added Tax (RVAT) Law will have minimal effect on prices of consumer goods that are currently subject to VAT.

"We will ensure that basic commodities reflect reasonable prices, and our monitoring teams will intensify enforcement of standards against unscrupulous business practices," he said.

Secretary Favila, who was joined by Finance secretary Margarito Teves during the launching of the 1st leg RVAT Roadshow in Davao Monday (August 29) held at the grand ballroom, Davao City Trade Convention center said DTI which has been working with the private sector and labor groups, has already put in place systems to guard against profiteering.

On the other hand, Agriculture assistant secretary Doy Salacup during the RVAT forum said it would track sudden spikes in the prices of basic unprocessed foods and food production inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, since these items continue to be VAT-exempt.

Meanwhile, Energy undersecretary Mel Ocampo, joining the RVAT Law Roadshow stressed that a number of mitigating measures to soften the impact of the VAT implementation on petroleum and power were incorporated into the RVAT Law to minimize the burden on the general public.

"These include eliminating the franchise tax on power distribution utilities, removing the excise tax on diesel, kerosene and bunker fuel oil, and applying zero-rating on the sale of power or fuel generated through renewable sources of energy, such as geothermal, hydro, and solar energy which account for about 57% of our total energy supply," Usec. Ocampo said.

The RVAT Law whole day forum was an overwhelming success with almost 700 participants coming from various sectors like: the civic groups, professionals, business, academe, government and non-government organizations, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Davao-Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and industry, professionals, and lawyers including 42 tri-media practitioners who attended the press conference after the conduct of the VAT clinic. (PIA-RBPalacio)

Dads: Constitution mandates only one impeachment case a year
By Rose Palacio
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan and City Council Majority Floor Leader Lawyer Emmanuel Galicia said that under the Philippine Constitution the law requires only one impeachment case should be processed within a year.

The House of Congress have started Monday (August the Justice committee hearing on the three impeachment complaints filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as part of the impeachment process.

During the start of the Justice committee hearing (August only 41 members of Congress have signed the impeachment complaint which is 38 short of the needed 79 votes to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. However to date, some opposition members have started to rally for the President.

The three impeachment complaints were filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano, a certain Jose Lopez, and the opposition led by minority leader Francis Escudero.

Today Wednesday (August 31), the administration supporters are expected to decide that the Lozano complaint is the one that initiated the impeachment proceeding against the President and triggered the Constitutional one-year ban on the filing of any other petition, according to Marinduque Rep. Edmund Reyes who belongs to the majority bloc. Reyes is one of the four members of the majority who endorsed the opposition's amended petitions last Tuesday.

Todate, the President's allies (reportedly) will vote to throw out the amended complaint by ruling that the Lozano petition barred any other impeachment charges.

In a published news article, Rep. Reyes said he has carefully studied the Lozano and Lopez petitions and has discovered that the two do not comply with the House requirements on "form" as they lack "verification."

Reyes explained that under Rule 13 of the impeachment rules, a complaint must be accompanied by a "verification" whose exact language is prescribed in such rule. (PIA-RBPalacio)

4,000 seedlings planted for Rep. Mercado's b-day
Brgy. Bogo, Maasin City (31 August 2005) -- Some 4,000 pieces of tree seedlings have been planted in a bald mountain here on Monday, August 29, to mark the birthday celebration of Rep. Roger Mercado, his 54th natal day.

Sweating profusely under a mild mid-morning sun with both hands dirtied, his trousers and rubber shoes stained and soiled, the birthday celebrant beamed as he leads hundreds of volunteers in a massive tree-planting activity right after attending an early morning Mass at the Maasin Cathedral.

Among those who planted trees - and at a very dangerous steep ridge of the mountain at that - were DENR Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, City Mayor Damian Mercado, Provincial Agriculturist Danilo Mayorca, and many Department of Agriculture and DENR employees.

Employees from the DPWH, DepEd, and other national line agencies, including some Couples for Christ (CFC) Elders and members, joined the tree planting.

Species that were planted were acacia mangium, aure, and eucalyptus.

It was learned that through the initiative of Cong. Mercado some 64 hectares of timberland surrounding brgy. Bogo have been programmed for reforestation with a proposed budget of P2 Million for three to five years, according to Bogo Punong Barangay Eleno Macaldo.

The area was so huge Cong. Mercado had to enlist the help of all sectors - private, public, NGOs - to start the reforestation effort and sustain it on a periodic basis in the weeks and months to come.

At the Brgy. Abgao gym where a "Share A Meal" program with Day Care Children and Person with Disabilities was held immediately after the tree planting, Cong. Mercado talked about his unwavering advocacy for the environment and a life filled with hope in the future.

"If our brothers and sisters with special needs have talents and abilities to show, how much more for all of us with complete limbs. For these small children, I want them to know that this morning we have just planted some 4,000 trees for their future environment," Cong. Mercado said.

The children were later treated to a Jollibee meal served by the birthday celebrant and his family, while special packages were handed to persons with disabilities, also courtesy of Cong. Mercado and his family. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

Leyte solon celebrates natal day with day care children and persons with special needs
Maasin City (31 August) -- To celebrate his 54th natal day meaningfully, Cong. Roger Mercado of the lone district of Southern Leyte, shared a meal with some 100 indigent day care children and 50 persons with special needs after planting 4,000 trees in Brgy. Bogo in the city of Maasin earlier that day.

The indigent children coming from ten depressed barangays in the city were served with the famous Jollibee chicken with rice as they were also entertained with the presence of Jollibee mascot who huddled with them. They all received school supplies like new set of bags, among others.

The birthday celebrant also shared a meal with the 50 persons with special needs. The deaf and mute group brought delight to the audience where they presented a dance number while the blind people gave their best to a singing competition during the birthday party.

The participants to the singing contest all received cash prize from Cong. Mercado himself.

Touched with the talents showcased by the blind, deaf, and mute persons, Cong. Mercado promised to appropriate funds to these sectors from his congressional funds to help them lighten up with their living conditions.

Before the birthday party ends, each of fifty families brought home bundles of groceries and rice prepared by a non-government organization, Limasawa Development and Economic Foundation (LIDEF).

The persons with special needs were assisted by the Department of Education staff while the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) identified the fifty indigent families. (PIA- Southern Leyte)

Crime prevention week celebration starts today
by Edson Bañares
Iloilo City (31 August 2005) -- Starting today, September 1 up to 7 the whole country will celebrate the 11th National Crime Prevention Week with the theme: “Barangay kag Pumuluyo Maghiliugyon: Kriminalidad Tapna-on!” and the Slogan: “Barangay Limpyuhon, Kriminalidad Dula-on!”.

Presidential Proclamation No. 461 dated August 31, 1994 declares the first week of September of every year as the National Crime Prevention Week. The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) will spearhead the celebration in cooperation with the member agencies of the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

In this week-long nationwide celebration, the NAPOLCOM and the PNP including other government agencies, non-government organizations, local government units, civic groups, academe, business sector, the media and the Barangay Officials will join hands in an endeavor to fight crime, restore order and preserve peace in the Barangays. Likewise, they will educate the public on the importance of crime prevention and the role that the Criminal Justice System plays in the prevention and control of crime since peace and order is simply within our reach if only we put our act together.

Here in the city and province of Iloilo, a Thanksgiving Mass will open the celebration at 8:00 A.M. at the Mary Mart Mall, Iloilo City to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Nene Sinoy to be followed by an opening ceremony. Expected to attend the ceremony are Governor Niel Tupas, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas and Guimaras Governor Rahman A. Nava, Chairman of Regional Peace & Order Council as guest of honor and speaker. At the end of the opening ceremony, Barangay Officials from the city will pledge their support in fighting criminality by signing a Pledge of Commitment. In the afternoon, a symposium on Crime Prevention will be held at Port San Pedro National High School to be participated in by the Port San Pedro high-school students.

On September 2, the Regional Peace & Order Council will conduct a meeting at 9:00 a.m. and at 2 p.m., a symposium on the 5 Pillars of the Criminal Justice System, Illegal Drugs and Threats of Terrorism will be conducted at De Paul College, Jaro, Iloilo City to be participated in by the high-school and college students of the said school. And on September 3 a series of “Hinun-anon sa Barangay” will be held at Arevalo District Gym at 9:00 a.m., Molo covered gym at 10:00 a.m. and Jaro covered gym at 2:00 p.m. to be participated by the Barangay Officials of Arevalo, Molo and Jaro respectively.

While on September 4, another series of “Hinun-anon sa Barangay” will be conducted at La Paz covered gym at 9:00, Mandurriao covered gym at 10:00 and Brgy. Tanza-Esparanza covered gym at 2:00 in the afternoon to be participated by the Barangay Officials of La Paz, Mandurriao and Brgy. Tanza-Esperanza respectively.

A series of lectures on the Role of the 5 Pillars of the CJS, Illegal Drugs and Threats of Terrorism will be conducted at John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation in Arevalo and at the Western Institute Technology in La Paz, on September 5 and 6 respectively.

Capping the celebration will be the Bloodletting at 8:00 a.m. and a PNP Orchestra Concert and Recognition of the Outstanding Barangays in the city of Iloilo at 4:00 p.m. on September 7, 2005 at Camp Delgado Multi-Purpose Hall. (PIA)

Eastern Visayans abhor pro-impeachment solons' "dishonorable" actuations
Tacloban City (31 August 2005) -- "They are dishonorables", Ms. Analiza Yu, who is a municipal councilor and president of the Leyte Association of Travel, Tours, Transport and Gasoline Dealers, uttered in exasperation.

This is just one of the reactions the actuations of the opposition legislators during the impeachment hearing yesterday, solicited from the leaders and people of Eastern Visayas.

Governor Evardone of Eastern Samar who is the spokesperson of the League of Governors harangued that the walking out of the pro impeachment opposition congressmen, was a part of a grand design in their futile campaign to unseat President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the hope that they can whip up the people to rise up against her.

Gov. Evardone, however, believe that the opposition will surely fail not only beause they don't have the evidence and the numbers but more importantly, because the people are already tired of too much politics.

"The people need a break," Gov. Evardone said further. " They need food on their tables, jobs, electricity, water and education. These they will not get by focusing on the antics of the opposition solons."

Congresswoman Cari of the 5th district of Leyte exclaimed that the opposition congressmen who walked out, some of them throwing their papers as they do so, only emphasized and dramatized their defeat. The walk out is just a shield because they know very well that aside from lacking in numbers, their impeachment complaint lacks form and substance.

The opposition congressmen do not believe in the democracy they are preaching, a former municipal councilor, radio commentator and a well-known political analyst said.

According to him, they have forgotten that in any democratic set up anywhere in the world, the rule of the majority prevails.

A Leyteño who is holding a high position in government felt that the walk out of the pro impeachment solons is too bad because they are not giving the people a good example of an orderly proceedings. "He who gets irritated is a loser", he said. Even if we are a democratic country where everyone is free to do as he pleases, the government official said that this is as long as it is not sanctioned by existing laws. In a proceeding like that of yesterday, the committee members are governed by certain parliamentary rules. What will happen is all the proceedings end up in a walk out when what one wants is not granted?

A very bad example, a veteran educator in a well known university in Tacloban expressed in dismay. She said that the "walk-out" solons must be answerable to the people. They were placed there to represent their constituents. Yet their actuations hardly express the sentiments of the people they have vowed to serve.

Even a public school student couldn't help but opine that what the solons did was conduct unbecoming. They seemed to have forgotten that they are seen by all people in national television. They are not giving good example to the Filipino youth.

The justice committee for weeks have been debating on the impeachment case filed against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.The people are tired of political bickering and chaos. They just want to live in peace and go on solving the problems of their daily living. They would rather that the solons proceed with their real task making legislations such as those on energy conservation to cushion the effects of the looming energy crisis, those on charter change and the pre-need in education.

When every sector of the Filipino community ceases their silence and start to express their opinions, when all that is elicited from the even the simple people are negative reactions, it is time for the pro impeachment congressmen to stop and listen. (PIA-8)

LBP approves P 9.4 billion credit line to 58,000 beneficiaries
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) has approved as of end-June 2005 a total credit line of 9.4 billion that benefited more than 58,000 clients.

LBP acting president and chief executive officer Gilda E. Pico during the nationwide awarding ceremonies for the outstanding Countryside Financial Institution (CFIs) reported that the approved credit line was accessed by 440 LandBank accredited CFIs throughout the country.

Pico also said that as of June 2005, LandBank's outstanding loans to priority sectors have reached P76 billion, making up 68 percent of the bank's total loan portfolio to P111 billion.

Of the P4 billion availment on the approved credit line Pico said the CFIs in Luzon channeled P2.2 billion while Mindanao and Visayas-based CFIs coursed P920 million and P759 million, respectively.

The figures, she said strongly indicate the crucial role of the CFIs in delivering the needed financial assistance to local agriculture and business players even as she said that the demand for financing remains high.

Pico acknowledged the help of the CFIs in delivering the credit facilities to clients in a faster and more efficient manner especially in the far flung towns and barrios.

"The CFIs are LandBank's conduits that serve as our important allies in help the countryside prosper," she said.

Pico encouraged the CFIs and the other banks including other sectors to avail of LandBank's various financial packages, especially the microfinance window so as to ensure a continuous stream of credit facilities to the different sectors of the country inorder to help and sustain the local economic growth. (PIA/pdbanzon)

TESDA lauds KABALIKAT awardees
By Mai B. Gevera
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- This year's KABALIKAT Awards of the the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recognizes the 1st Congressional District of Davao City, Lapanday Foods Corporation, and Jolibee Foods Davao for their contribution in the promotion of the country's middle level manpower.

KABALIKAT Award is one of TESDA's reward mechanism in giving due recognition and honor to partners in the promotion and enhancement of technical education and training (TVET).

The awardees have contributed in the form of training sponsorships, donation of training machine and equipment, supplies and materials and other support services.

Davao City 1st Congressional District Representative Prospero Nograles was given the award for his being a promoter of human resource. From his Priority Development Assistance Fund, he allotted P1.6 million for education assistance in the whole province. In 2004, P3 million was given for trainings, facilities, and infrastructures.

Nograles' son ,Karlo, who received the award in behalf of his father said, " In 2006, we will provide more funds . As public servants, we do not expect anything in return. We only expect to change many lives. It's enough for us to see the smile of those we have changed lives."

The Lapanday Foods Cooperation through its Lapanday Skills Training Center was also warded for conducting responsive trainings and for launching the Study Now Pay Later Program that accommodated 33 scholars.

" Training our people is Lapanday's core value. It is important to develop our manpower from mere agricultural workers to industrial,skilled workers." Said Lapanday Senior Vice President Francisco X. Lorenzo.

Other awardees are Astred A. Cajes for Best Community Training and Employment Coordinator (CTEC) city category, and Bernadeth Saladaga for the municipal category.

Special awards are given to Davao city 1st District councilor Leonardo Avila, 2nd district councilor Dante Apostol, Atty Karlo Nograles, Nicanor Fabracuer Sr., and Delma Jumala.(PIA/ Mai B. Gevera)

KAPPAS ventures into pili plantation
Catbalogan, Samar (31 August 2005) -- A people's organization named Katatapuran Han Parag-uma Han Samar (KAPPAS) has changed for the better. Whereas before they were trapped into illegal timber operations, today, they have changed hearts. They have become vanguards of forest protection, so claims Danilo Miralles, chairman of KAPPAS.

One of the activities these days, is top venture into a vast pili plantation of 70 hectares from the mined out area in Bagacay by then Philippine Pyrite Inc. When asked why the group chose pili, Noel Pacampara, KAPPAS Project Manager explained that pili is the best choice for replenishment of denuded areas. Aside from its resilient quality, it could also provide resin, lumber and fruits.

Presently, the group is waiting for the delivery of some 12 thousands pili seedlings from Bicol. These seedlings, offered Miralles, deviates from the usual pili they could bear fruit within three to four years and they do not grow as tall as the pili of old. It would be easier to climb, says a woman-member half in jest.

Members of KAPPAS vowed to take special attention to the pili seedlings considering the amount spent for the purchase of the pili seedlings alone. Close to P400,000.00 have been drained here, said Nora Abalon, 34, another member. Presently, all farmer-members of KAPPAS are busy in the land preparation.

"We make sure it would thrive well and grow fruits because we have poured our resources here and it would be best if the pili trees will grow and yield bounty so that our efforts would be worth it," says Lucy Cajepo, 42, a woman-member of the people's organization.

KAPPAS Inc., a people's organization has 300 members in San Isidro, Tenani, Paranas, Samar. This organization, says Project Manager Noel Pacampara has members who are upland farmers organized by Tandaya Foundation in 1996 under the Community Forestry Program-CFP, a pilot upland project funded by the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE) and Katherin G. MacArthur Foundation. Its main objective is economic upliftment and stability through sustainable management and utilization of the resources.

Now on its 19th year (6 years as PO managed) of project implementation, KAPPAS now handle the 6500 hectares of forestland for the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFM). This was awarded to them by the DENR in February 15, 1999 with the components of forest rehabilitation; agroforestry; forest protection; alternative livelihood opportunities - that - is utilizing non-timber forest products like rattan, bariw and punit.

Miralles likewise disclosed that some 70% of the entire population of the two adjacent barangays of Tenani and San Isidro are members of the remaining 30% as non-members. When asked what the difference is, Miralles was quick to reply that the members have become aware and alert in forest protection while the non-members are still illegal logging game. "If and when they become members like us, they will have to give up their abuse of the resources and join force with us to fight raiders of the forest," said Miralles. (PIA-Samar)

Rural bank in Lanao del Norte cited most outstanding countryside financial institution
Davao City (31 August 2005) -- A rural bank from the sleepy town of Lanao del Norte wiped out other contenders for the Most Outstanding Countryside Financial Institutions of the country as rated by the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Formerly named as the Kapatagan Rural Bank, the First Valley Rural Bank of Baroy, Lanao del Norte won P300,000 and a plaque. It was also rated as Region 10's most outstanding rural bank and was awarded an additional cash prize of P50,000. Aside from the two awards, it also was given special award as best in Capital Build Up.

First Valley Rural Bank president Atty. Nicolas Lim said they served mostly the enterprising poor of their locality.

He said that their loan facility offered to micro entrepreneurs e most of whom have capitalization within the range of P2,000 to P5,000 reached to some P28 million.

Lim said they started banking nine years ago with no clients at all in a 5th class municipality of Kapatagan and later to poor entrepreneurs until today.

He said he was challenged by Land Bank to achieve more and improve their performance which they build through the years which made them number one this year.

The bank has a capitalization of P752 million with a networth of P99 million and was able to generate jobs of about 2,350.

Garnering the second place was Marikina Valley Rural Bank with a cash award of P200,000 and ranking third is the Philippine Rural Banking Corporation of Cauayan City, Isabela with a cash prize of P150,000. Fourth place went to Golden 7 Bank of Naga City and was awarded P100,000 and the fifth placer was the Rural Bank of Pola from Pola, Oriental Mindoro with a cash award of P75,000.

The other awardees per region with a cash prize of P50,000 each were Region 1 - Gulf Bank, Inc.\ Region 2- Philippine Rural Banking Corporation; Region 3 - Gateway Rural Bank, Inc.; CALABARZON - First United Farmers Bank; Region 5 - Golden 7 Bank, Inc.; Region 6- Rural Bank of Marayo; Region 7 - First Agro-Industrial Rural Bank; Region 8 - Rural Bank of Padre Burgos; Region 9 - Rural Bank of Labason; Region 11 - Tagum Rural Bank; ARMM - Partner Rural Bank of Cotabato; SocCSKSarGen - Peninsula Rural Bank, Inc.; and NCR - Marikina Valley Rural Bank, Inc.

The other special awardees were Tagum Rural Bank as Best in Profitability; Producers Rural Banking Corporation as Best in Reciprocal Business; Gateway Rural Bank as Best Availer-Agr/Agra Loans; Marikina Valley Rural Bank, Best CFI Availer - All Loans; and Golden 7 Bank, Best CFI Intermediary with the lowest pass-on rate. (PIA/pdbanzon)